TopofPageMidwest Food Processors Association News Bulletin  - March 2, 2016   
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Senate Panel Passes GMO Labeling Bill 
A bill that would pre-empt state laws that mandate GMO labeling, such as Vermont's, and set up a federal voluntary labeling system instead, has passed in the Senate Agriculture Committee 14 -6.

The legislation is similar to a bill the House passed last year which MWFPA supported because GMOs are safe and a patchwork of state laws isn't practical.

Passage will be difficult in the Senate, where 60 votes will be needed to overcome a certain filibuster. Vermont Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders have both strongly opposed efforts to block their state's law.

The Democratic senators from North Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan will likely be critical to moving the bill. The three states are the leading producers of sugar beets, most of which are genetically engineered.
 

Read more

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Senate Confirms Califf For FDA 
FDA Robert M. Califf was approved by the Senate to be the commissioner of the Food and Drug Adminsitration (FDA)

The Senate confirmed Califf on a lopsided vote of 89 to 4, bringing a swift conclusion to a drawn-out battle.

Read more here.

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Vermont's GMO Labeling Law May Increase Grocery Bills For Consumers
A study produced by the economic research firm John Dunham and Associates and commissioned by the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) shows that American families may spend approximately $1,050 more per year on groceries due to Vermont's new law requiring on-package labels for foods with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

According to the firm, the increase will stem from the cost of new labeling systems and because consumers will likely view the GMO labels as warnings, leading food companies to switch from GMO ingredients to more expensive non-GMO ingredients


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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.

IL House, Senate Convene, Far From Passing Budget
The IL House and Senate are both in this week while the state remains far from passing a budget for the current year - let alone next year. This is the only week the House is scheduled for session this month.

Gov. Rauner urged lawmakers during his budget address on Feb. 17 to make a choice: Pass the business-friendly reforms he wants in exchange for his approval of a full $36 billion budget, which would include raising taxes, or allow the Republican to make $3.5 billion in cuts from the spending plan however he chooses.

The proposition appeared not to interest the Democrats who control the Legislature. 

The IL Senate Revenue committee is scheduled to meets today to hold a subject matter hearing on the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability FY 2017 Economic Forecast and Revenue Estimate and Update to FY 2016 revenue outlook.
 
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WI State Assembly Passes Hi Cap Well Bill
The WI State Assembly has passed a measure allowing high capacity wells to be transferred, repaired or reconstructed without a new permit. The bill now moves on to the State Senate which is scheduled to be on the floor one last time on March 15. Read more.
 
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Latest Consumer Research Delves Into Online Communities
Consumers are changing the face of food policy in the country through the use of social media. The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) latest consumer trust research delves into these online communities to help those in the food system better communicate with consumers. The research identified eight "food tribes" that provide a framework for engaging influential groups of consumers in ways that are most meaningful to them. Read CFI's report here.

EPA Energy Star Program Seeks Food Processing Participants
Are you looking for a way to kick off your energy program or demonstrate your leadership in energy efficiency?
 
If so, team up with ENERGY STAR, America's most influential brand for superior energy performance!
 
Signing up is easy and you can choose how to participate:
  1. Take the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, which recognizes industrial sites that improve their energy efficiency by 10% within 5 years.
  2. Pursue the ENERGY STAR certification for your plant, available for juice processing, frozen fried potato, and cookie and cracker baking plants.
  3. Join the Energy Star food processing focus, a workgroup that shares and advances best practices for energy efficiency in the food processing industry.
Energy costs can make a difference in your bottom line. Reducing those costs and receiving public recognition with ENERGY STAR can improve your corporate reputation as well as your profits.
  • Successful Challenge for Industry participants will be featured on the ENERGY STAR website, and a letter from EPA highlighting the plant's accomplishments will be sent to the company's CEO.
  • Certified plants are awarded a congratulatory letter to the company's CEO, a certificate of achievement, decals for identifying the plant's certification, the option to obtain flags/banners/plaques, and a listing in EPA's ENERGY STAR certified plant registry.
To get started, visit one of the links above or  www.energystar.gov/industry.
 
You can also contact Melissa Hulting at 312-886-2265 ([email protected]) or Juan Thomas at 312-886-6010 ( [email protected]). We'll be glad to help.

Save The Date For MWFPA's Food Sanitation Seminar


Plan to attend MWFPA's food sanitation seminar on April 21, 2016 to be held at the Stoney Creek Hotel, 3060 S. Kinney Coulee Rd. in Onalaska, WI.

The proactive and preventive approach to controlling contami-
nation through cleaning and sanitation is increasingly being recognized as a key factor in food safety management. This full-day seminar will look at the sanitation problems and solutions that are found in today's food plants.  Mark your calendar now!

The planned agenda (subject to change) is as follows:
  1. PC Vasavada, PCV LLC - Cleaning, Sanitation & Hygienic Design - Fundamental Concepts & Challenges: Sanitation as Preventive Control

  2. Joseph Meyer, Miniat Holdings LLC
    • 1st Presentation - Hygienic design - Principles, Criteria, Requirements and Best Practices
    • 2nd Presentation - Hygienic design of Equipment & Hygiene practices during maintenance operations in the food industry
3. Jan Kelly, MN Department of Agriculture - State Inspection Programs - Concerns and Findings

4. Scott Radcliffe, Romer Labs - Food Allergen Testing, Management and Controls

5. Brian Wood, Hydrite Chemicals - Cleaning  and sanitation in food plant and sanitation kits demo

6. Jeff Kornacki, Kornacki Microbiology Solutions
    • 1st Presentation - Cleaning and Sanitation in Dry Products Plants and Control of Salmonella in Food Plant Environment
    • 2nd Presentation - Environmental pathogen monitoring and Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in Food Plant Environments
7. Rick Stokes, Ecolab - Maintaining Effective Sanitary Design Programs                

Opportunities to exhibit and sponsorships for the morning, lunch, and afternoon programs will be available.  Sponsors will be provided an opportunity to introduce the beginning of each session and give a five minute presentation about their company.

Better Process Control School Set For April
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is set to present the 2016 Better Process Control School, April 26-29, 2016 in Madison, WI.
 
The Better Process Control School provides the canning industry with qualified personnel to meet FDA and USDA regulations.
 
All processing of thermally processed low-acid or acidified foods which are packaged in hermetically-sealed containers must have certain critical operations supervised by a qualified person.The 
Better Process Control School trains individuals to supervise these critical operations.
 
Training is being offered this year in late April in order to support training of personnel newly hired for the pack season.
 
Registration and schedule information is available online: www.foodsafety.wisc.edu
 
Early registration deadline is April 4, 2016.

MWFPA Scholarship Window Closes Today, Friday/Weckel Applications Still Available
scholarship The application period for the MWFPA Scholarship closes today, March 2.  However, applications continue to be taken for Friday/Weckel scholarships and will be until April 29.

Undergraduate students attending, or planning to attend, UW Madison, Platteville or River Falls are eligible for Friday/Weckel scholarships. Applications are due by April 29, 2016. Last year six scholarships were awarded totaling $9,000.

Information and applications can be downloaded from the MWFPA website, or by contacting Brian Elliott at: [email protected], or by calling 608-255-9946.

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Review A Copy Of The MWFPA Annual Report
MWFPA's 2015 annual report is now available for online viewing or download. 

The report provides a snapshot of MWFPA's 2015 successes and highlights the many services provided by MWFPA to its members over the year.  Click on the photo at right.

MWFPA Events You Won't Want To Miss
April 21, 2016: MWFPA Sanitation Seminar. Stoney Creek Hotel,
3060 S Kinney Coulee Rd., Onalaska, WI.

June 1-2, 2016: MWFPA Spring Summit & Scramble. Trappers Turn, Wisconsin Dells, WI.

October 6, 2016: MWFPA Sporting Clays Challenge. Milford Hills, Johnson Creek, WI.

November 29- December 1, 2016: MWFPA 112th Annual Convention and 89th Processing Crops Conference.  Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI.

Other Educational Opportunities
March 31-April 1, 2016: Iowa State University Food Microbiology. Activities will begin at Iowa State Univeristy1951 Food Sciences Building. Iowa State University's Food Microbiology groups will provide insight on the ecology of microorganisms in foods, detection, and enumeration, isolation, and identification methods for food-borne pathogens, toxins, and contaminants that may occur in a food plant environment. Our course will combine classroom lectures with laboratory environment on the fundamentals of food microbiology and food safety.  For registration and course information, click here.

April 12-13, 2016Arc Flash Hazard Analysis. Pyle Center,702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI. Ensure your work environment is safe by reviewing relevant standards, like NFPA 70E, and IEEE 1584, and NESC 410A3. You will also learn about personal protective equipment, perform arc flash hazard calculations, evaluate arc-resistant switchgear and understand coordination issues relating to faster trip time.  For more information, or to enroll, click here.

April 26-29, 2016: University of Wisconsin - Madison Better Process Control School.  Madison, WI. All processing of thermally processed low-acid or acidified foods which are packaged in hermetically-sealed containers must have certain critical operations supervised by a qualified person.  The Better Process Control School trains individuals to supervise these critical operations.
 
Registration and schedule information is available online: www.foodsafety.wisc.edu. Early registration deadline is April 4, 2016.

April 26-28, 2016: Iowa State University FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food. Iowa State University 1951 Food Sciences Building Ames, IA.  A three day Basic Preventive Controls training designed for people in the food industry desiring to understand and be trained in the Food Safety system for manufacturing safe food. This course will meet the FDA FSMA regulations as an Approved Course under Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance (FSPCA).  For more information, click here.

May 3-4, 2016Dryer TechnologyMadison Concourse Hotel,
One West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703. Expand your knowledge of dryer fundamentals and learn how to apply proven methods to solve problems, and improve energy efficiency and your operations. This course will focus on continuous drying of particulate materials from foods to inorganic chemicals. 
For more information, or to enroll, click here.

May 5, 2016: Atomization and Spray Technology: Focus on Spray Drying Course. Madison Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703.  Learn about various types of atomizers, as well as how an atomizer works, and how to select an atomizer for specific applications. This course will focus on atomization methods, functions, designs, atomizer performance, and much more. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to compare different atomizers and select the right one for your application. In addition, you will be able to calculate droplet size, cone angle, and other spray characteristics.  For enrollment and other information, click here.

June 13-15, 2016Iowa State University FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food. Iowa State University 1951 Food Sciences Building Ames, IA.  A three day Basic Preventive Controls training designed for people in the food industry desiring to understand and be trained in the Food Safety system for manufacturing safe food. This course will meet the FDA FSMA regulations as an Approved Course under Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance (FSPCA).  For more information, click here. 
 
Midwest Food Processors Assoc. | | [email protected] | http://www.mwfpa.org
4600 American Pkwy.
Suite 210
Madison, WI 53718