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 The MWFPA Bulletin is underwritten in part by Focus on Energy | | |
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| Report Says Feds Must Change Approach To Food Safety | |
According to a new report released by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks a comprehensive vision for food safety and should change its approach to protect the food supply.
The 500-page report concluded that the FDA--which regulates 80 percent of the food supply--is not efficiently using limited resources to target the riskiest parts of the food chain, too often reacting to outbreaks instead of working to prevent them in the first place.
Release of the report, requested by Congress to identify ways to improve the federal food safety system, resulted in renewed calls from the food industry and food safety advocates to pass food safety legislation. S. 510 is currently pending in the Senate and is similar to a bill that passed the House last July with bipartisan support. The Senate bill would mandate a majority of the reports recommendations, including facility registration, greater access to records, mandatory preventative controls, enforceable performance standards, and mandatory recall authority.
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| Food Safety Bill Caught In Crunch | |
It appears that S. 510, the Senate food safety legislation is getting caught between a tight Congressional calendar and the battle brewing over the pending amendment by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.) to restrict the use of BPA.
According to Capitol Hill sources, the Senate may push back action on the measure from the second week of June to later in the month. This creates a problem in that the further back it is moved, the more crowded the legislative calendar becomes and floor time for consideration of the bill becomes even more limited.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association and other food industry groups oppose Feinstein's amendment and have threatened to withdraw support for the measure if Feinstein's amendment is included. MWFPA has communicated its opposition to the amendment to the U.S. Senators representing Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Currently, there is no indication that Feinstein is willing to back down on the issue.
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| WI DNR To Take Up Phosphorus Rule | |
The WI Department of Natural Resources Board of Directors is expected to adopt proposed phosphorus discharge rules at its June 23, 2010 meeting.
MWFPA submitted comments two months ago during the public hearing process. We are concerned the rule sets unrealistic goals for point-source dischargers that might cause economic harm while doing little to nothing to lower phosphorus levels in Wisconsin's surface waters.
Should the DNR Board adopt the rule there is a legislative review period before final adoption. MWFPA is interested in knowing your thoughts on the rule. Please feel free to forward your comments to Nick George or Brian Elliott at the MWFPA office.
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| WI Now Accepting Processor Tax Credit Applications | |
Applications are now being accepted by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for tax credits through the recently enacted Food Processing Plant and Food Warehouse Investment Credit.
The deadline is June 18, 2010 for the first round of funding. The second-round application deadline is February 15, 2011.
The tax credit may cover up to 10 percent of the eligible expenses spent in the taxable year for modernizing or expanding food processing plants and warehouses. The maximum amount a business can receive over the life of the program is $200,000.
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| The MWFPA Bulletin is underwritten in part by Abbott Company and FoxJet | | |
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| Wonderful Weather, Plentiful Prizes Mark Golf Outing Success | |
Great golfers, wonderful weather, and plentiful prizes made the annual golf outing on June 3, at Trappers Turn Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells, a complete success.
A record 46 teams participated and a "scramble" format was played enabling MWFPA members and guests to experience a day of fun and networking. After golf, 205 friends enjoyed a lunch of burgers, brats and hot dogs with all the trappings of a typical Wisconsin cookout. This was  followed by the awards ceremony and raffle emceed by MWFPA President Nick George. Excellent gifts were given to lucky winners, including golf balls, towels, blankets, a golf club and bag, in addition to more than $3,000 in cash prizes.
Two teams tied for lowest score (62) as follows:
Scott Dornbusch, Neil Dornbusch & Associates
Al Simanovski, Lakeside Foods
Larry Krause, Neil Dornbusch & Associates
Dan Wilson, Del Monte Foods
Brian Maul, OXBO International
Mike Miller, OXBO International
Stewart Higgins, Del Monte Foods
Tom Dulas, Del Monte Foods
See a listing of all the winners here. View photos of the event in our photo gallery.
Special thanks to Trappers Turn Golf Club for making our event turn out so well! Any such gathering requires an energetic membership and the generous support of sponsors and friends. A grand "thank you" goes to the organizations whose contributions and hole sponsorship helped make this year's outing a success! Watch for information on next years golf outing and plan to join the fun!
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| Welcome New Members! | |
Help us welcome our newest Association Members!
Find out more about these companies by clicking the company name and visiting their website.
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| Friday/Weckel Scholarship Applications Closed | |
The application process for Friday/Weckel Scholarships has closed. Twelve applications were received.
MWFPA may award up to six $1,500 scholarships to undergraduate students who are majoring in agriculture or food science at UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls.
MWFPA's Human Resources Committee will review the applications in July. Recipients will be named in early August.
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| Brackett Named Director of Food Safety Institute | |
The National Center for Food Safety and Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, has announced that Robert E. Brackett, PhD, has been named director and vice president. Brackett, who will be responsible for management of the center and will continue to improve its stature as a national and international leader in food science research, will begin his duties on July 1.
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| MWFPA Calendar of Events | |
June 22-24, 2010: How to Implement and Sustain Lean in Process Industries: Fundamentals of Lean --Part 2, held in Madison, WI. Applying the tools and techniques taught in this course will enable process industries representatives to better understand how to implement and sustain Lean in a process industry to reduce lead times, improve product quality,reduce inventories,improve customer service levels, and overall equipment effectiveness. Click here for additional information.
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June 28-29, 2010: Advanced Summit on Food Safety Regulatory Compliance, Millennium Knickbocker Hotel, Chicago, IL. MWFPA and the American Conference Institute are providing a forum for in-house regulatory and government affairs, food safety and compliance officers. This conference will put relevant stakeholders in the food industry - both in-house and government - in one place for two days of knowledge-sharing, policy shaping and strategy development. To learn more or to register, click here.
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July 12-16, 2010: Relief System Design Webcourse, held via the web from 1-3 pm Central, this UW-Madison Industrial Refrigeration Consortium workshop is an ideal opportunity to develop or improve your understanding of engineered safety relief systems. The primary focus is industrial refrigeration systems but many of the principles discussed apply equally to other applications as well. Whether you are an end-user, equipment manufacturer, design engineer, or contractor, this course will help you build your capabilities in the area of the principles and practices of engineering safety relief systems. The deadline for enrollment is Monday, July 5. Enroll online at:http://www.irc.wisc.edu/?/conf_registration
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Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2010: 106th MWFPA Annual Convention and 83rd Processing Crops Conference Mark your calendar for next year's annual convention, to be held at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis.
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This newsletter is published twice monthly and as developments warrant, and is intended for a general audience of manufacturers and suppliers of food and agricultural products. |
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