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 The MWFPA Bulletin is underwritten in part by Focus on Energy | | |
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Health Canada, FDA Confirm BPA Safety | |
On August 26, Health Canada released a new survey on BPA exposure levels in a variety of soft drink and beer products. The results provide confirmation that foods and beverages packaged in BPA epoxy resin coated metal cans do not pose a health risk.
The report confirms Health Canada officials' previous conclusion "that current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging uses is not expected to pose a health risk to the general population." This same finding has been reaffirmed by other international food regulatory agencies in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia-New Zealand.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists recently published  results from two studies indicating that BPA is effectively and efficiently metabolized and excreted out of the body.
The conclusions from Health Canada come as Environment Canada has indicated that it plans to add BPA to the official List of Toxic Substances. The body rejected calls from the American Chemistry Council that it review the proposal saying that no new compelling scientific evidence had been presented.
In a related story, the California State Senate defeated a bill on Tuesday that would have banned BPA from plastic baby bottles, sippy cups and baby formula containers. The measure would have limited the chemical to trace amounts in food and drink containers intended for use by children age 3 or younger. MWFPA has actively opposed bans on BPA at both the state and federal level.
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Egg Crisis May Leave Legislators Scrambling | |
The salmonella outbreak that has spurred the recall of more than 500 million eggs may send Capitol Hill lawmakers scrambling to pass the stalled food safety bill.
According to one report, the pressure is mounting on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring the bill up for consideration. Prospects for action were improved in August when Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), and Chris Dodd (D-Ct.) presented a compromise measure.
A Reid spokesperson said the bill is on a list of items for possible consideration when the Senate returns in September.
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President Not Conceding Defeat On Energy, Climate Bills | |
White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Director, Carol Browner said recently that the President has "not yet" conceded defeat on climate change and clean energy legislation.
She noted the Administration was "deeply disappointed" that legislation had not yet passed both houses of Congress. She added that clean energy legislation could "potentially" be enacted in a lame duck session of Congress following this fall's midterm elections. MWFPA has actively opposed climate change legislation because of its disproportionate impact on energy costs in the Midwest.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) recently told reporters that he did not think Congress would pass any major legislation before the November elections. He said he expects Congress to act in response to the oil spill in the Gulf, but that might occur during a lame duck session and that it will be difficult for the Senate to pass any cap-and-trade legislation.
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| Romanski Appointed WI Ag Secretary | |
Governor Jim Doyle announced the appointment Monday of Randy Romanski as Secretary of the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). He replaces Rod Nilsestuen, who died in July while swimming in Lake Superior. Romanski served as Nilsestuen's Deputy Secretary since December 2007 and was instrumental in promoting the food processor tax credit which was enacted into law last session.
Prior to joining DATCP, Romanski served as the Executive Assistant for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, deputy chief of staff for Governor Jim Doyle; executive assistant for the Department of Transportation; and spokesperson and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Justice. He also held staff positions in both the WI State Senate and the WI State Assembly, working directly on agricultural, rural affairs and natural resources issues.
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| WI Study Committee Hears Plastics Testimony | |
The WI Legislative Council Special Committee on Single Use Plastics held its first two hearings on August 24 and 25. The committee is composed of a combination of legislator and citizen members. Its membership includes Brian Lawless, section mgr. at Kraft Foods - Madison, WI, and Win Clemmons, plant mgr. at Pactiv Corporation - Chippewa Falls, WI. Testimony was provided by experts in the plastics and recycling industries.
Among the hearing topics was "Extended Producer Responsibility," or EPR. EPR holds producers liable for the costs of managing their products at end of life. This tactic shifts responsibility for waste from government to private industry, obliging producers, importers and/or sellers to internalize waste management costs in their product prices, i.e., raise consumer prices.
The committee will next meet in mid-October. It will consider various policy ideas, which may include assessing a fee against manufacturers who package their products in plastic containers or film, to be included in legislation that could be introduced next year.
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| WI Senate Race A Tie According To Poll | |
According to an August 24 Rasmussen poll, WI U.S. Senate candidates Ron Johnson and incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold are in a virtual dead heat with Johnson leading 47% to 46%.
Republicans will decide their nominee in a September 14 primary. Johnson is pitted against businessman David Westlake.
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| MI Website Promotes Federal Immigration Reform | |
The Minnesota Business Immigration Coalition, of which MWFPA is a member, has launched a website to raise awareness for the need for federal immigration reform. The group supports comprehensive federal reform including secure borders. It recognizes that as states begin to take on a greater role in enforcing federal immigration laws, a system that is now cumbersome for many employers will become more confusing and expensive to manage.
In addition to MWFPA, the coalition includes the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, Hospitality Minnesota, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Restaurant Association and the Minnesota Lodging Association.
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| Welcome New Members! | | |
Help us welcome our newest Association Members! Find out more about these companies by clicking on their company name and visiting their website.
TriMedia Environmental & Engineeering
Zoneworks
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| Register Now For MWFPA Convention! | |
The MWFPA 106th Annual Convention and 83rd Food Processing Crops Conference will be held Tuesday, November 30, 2010 through Thursday, December 2, 2010 at the Green Bay, Wisconsin, KI Convention Center. The preliminary convention agenda is below. Additional speakers are being added. A full agenda will soon be available.
This three-day event will feature a full program of educational seminars, high level industry and government speakers, break-out sessions, networking events and a resource-rich trade show exhibition with over 120 exhibitors.
Booths are going FAST!
Exhibitor registration is now open -- First Round Booth Lottery remains open until Sept. 3. After that, first come, first serve.
Exhibitor and General registration and convention information is available on our website
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
- MWFPA Board Meeting
- Exhibitor Check In
- Registration Open
- Processing Crops Conference Begins
- All Industry Reception -- Lambeau Field Atrium
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
- Convention and Trade Show Begins
- Keynote Speaker -- Elizabeth Pavonka, president of the Produce For Better Health Foundation
- Motivational Speaker -- Santana Dotson, retired defensive tackle, Green Bay Packers
- Registration Continues
- Processing Crops Conference Continues
- Chairman's Reception -- Hotel Sierra
Thursday, December 2, 2010
- Convention and Trade Show Continues
- Safety Breakfast -- Economist & Futurist Dr. Jay Lehr
- Lunch Speaker -- Tim Walkoe, Chicago Comedian
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| 2010-11 Friday/Weckel Scholarships Awarded | |
The MWFPA Human Resources Committee has selected the following three students to each receive $1,500 from the Kenneth G. Weckel Scholarship Fund:
1. Charles Lee, UW-Madison
2. Nur Badrol Hisham, UW-River Falls
3. Megan Kleiber, UW-River Fall
The following three students were selected to each receive $1,500 from the Carleton A. Friday Scholarship Fund:
1. Alex Hansen, UW-Platteville
2. Jeffrey Faust, UW-River Falls
3. Anna Troester, UW-Platteville
Congratulations to the winners! They were chosen from among 12 very qualified candidates. The students have also been invited to attend the convention in Green Bay.
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| MWFPA Cosponsors Food-Borne Illness Forum | |
MWFPA is proud to be a cosponsor of the American Conference Institute's 4th National Forum on Food-Borne Illness Litigation to be held October 27-28, 2010 at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago, IL.
 In the wake of what is quickly becoming one of the largest national egg recalls in history, now is the time for in-house counsel, regulatory affairs and compliance officers within the food industry to closely evaluate what your company is doing to prepare for the impending e.coli/salmonella season and the litigation that follows. Led by the two most prominent food-borne illness litigation attorneys - on both sides -Alan Maxwell and Bill Marler, Bill recently had the opportunity to discuss the legal ramifications of the salmonella-tainted eggs as a featured commentator on Larry King Live
MWFPA members will obtain highly-specialized, practical information on how to respond to heightened litigation exposure crated by emerging risks in the food supply chain.
See the forum brochure for more information and registration details.
MWFPA members are entitled to a $400 discount off the full price (pay $1795 instead of $2195) by using a discount code when registering. Members wishing to use the code should contact the MWFPA office.
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ConAgra Awarded For Diversity | | |
It was announced in August that ConAgra Foods, Inc. has been recognized for advancing diversity in the workplace, receiving a 2010 International Innovation in Diversity Award from Profiles in Diversity Journal.
ConAgra operates six employee resource networks representing different ethnicities and backgrounds, giving those employees the opportunity to collaborate with the senior leadership team.
In addition, quarterly development sessions, mentoring programs and an annual leadership conference allow staff to share insights, lead others and develop strategic plans based on business objectives, according to the company.
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Kraft Foods' Stein Made VP Of Business Performance | | |
Kraft Foods has appointed Regenia Stein to be vice president of business performance, industry development and communications.
Her new position incorporates industry affairs and communications into her current responsibilities, which include end-to-end business process management, trade strategy and collaborative planning for the North American Sales function.
Stein's previous positions include central area VP for Kraft Foods North America customer development, VP of national accounts at Miller Brewing and several other roles within the Kraft and predecessor General Foods sales organizations.
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| MWFPA Calendar of Events | |
September 15-17, 2010: Process Hazard Analysis, Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton St., Madison, Wis. Attendees to this UW-Madison, Dept. of Engineering sponsored seminar will learn factors that will improve their ability to conduct high-performance PHAs. This will allow attendees to identify weaknesses in both the design and operation that could lead to accidental releases in their ammonia refrigeration systems. For more information visit here.
September 20-24, 2010: Design of Ammonia Refrigeration Systems, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI. The UW-Madison Department of Engineering presents a practical, hands-on course for owners, designers, contractors, consulting engineers and others interested in industrial refrigeration system design guidelines and practices. For additional information and registration, go to http://epd.engr.wisc.edu/webK879.
September 29-30, 2010: Waste Heat Recovery Workshop for Power and Heat, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL. This two-day event is organized by the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Energy Application Centers and is one of the only workshops in the nation devoted to industrial waste heat recovery for power and heat applications
The workshop will provide a venue to gain insight on industrial waste heat recovery concepts and technologies, meet with project industry experts, engage in discussion panels with project developers, engineers, and system operators, and learn about financial and policy related activities impacting the waste heat recovery industry. For further information, see here.
September 20 - October 1, 2010: Thermal Processing Professional Training Program, Grocery Manufacturers Association Headquarters, 1350 I Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005. The GMA's training program is a two-week intensive program of instructions designed to teach thermal processing professionals the most current science-based techniques to be applied in the development of optimal thermal processes and the migration of thermal process deviations. Click here for an overview of the program and registration.
October 4-5, 2010: Dryer Technology, Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton St., Madison, Wis. The UW-Madison Department of Engineering provides a practical course covering continuous dryers including dryer operation, improving efficiency and reducing energy costs. For more information and to enroll, click here.
October 6, 2010: Atomization and Spray Technology; Focus on Spray Drying, Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton St., Madison, Wis. The UW-Madison Department of Engineering provides an opportunity to discuss and explore innovations and practical solutions to your atomization applications. Enroll now.
October 6-7, 2010: Food Labeling: Complying with Regulatory Requirements for the Labeling of Packaged Foods Workshop: Washington, D.C. GMA staff experts in food labeling and nutrition will teach food company personnel the food labeling skills they need, whether they are responsible for labeling compliance, food product marketing or product development. Topics include: general statutory authorities and rules governing all required label elements, special labeling provisions, information about food label claims and the latest developments on food labeling rules. For more information and to register, click here.
October 6-8, 2010: Introduction to Ammonia Refrigeration Systems, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, Wis., The UW-Madison Department of Engineering invites you to discover why ammonia is the refrigerant of choice for industrial refrigeration systems. The course will assist you to understand the principles of ammonia systems, equipment use and best practices for safety and operations. To learn more and enroll, click here.
October 19-20, 2010: Evaporators: Designing, Evaluating, and Operating, Madison Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton St., Madison, WI. Attend this detailed introductory course sponsored by the UW-Madison, Dept. of Engineering to learn about the fundamentals of evaporation and evaporators, the process design of evaporators and methods for improving evaporator efficiency. For additional information and registration, click here.
November 2, 2010: Export Education Seminar Product Pricing, Payment, and Placement, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Brookfield, WI, co-sponsored by the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Food Export Association. Participants will be exposed to a wide range of information from strategies for developing an export price to logistics of delivering the products to your global customers. Companies registered before October 19 will receive, for no additional cost, a market analysis of their products top markets. Registration deadline is October 19 and the cost is $50 per person. For more information or to register, contact: Kelsey Olson, WI DATCP, Email: kelsey.olson@wi.gov; Tel: 608.224.5117
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is published twice monthly or as developments warrant, and is intended for a general audience of manufacturers and suppliers of food and agricultural products. |
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