May/June 2024 - 17

FROZEN FOOD TRENDS
" AFFI's commitment to food safety and professional
education will provide attendees
with an unparalleled opportunity to enhance
their learning, connect with regulators,
industry leaders and ultimately better
serve their organizations and end users. "
- RICK BIROS, FOOD SAFETY TECH PUBLISHER
Attendees can also learn more about the USDA's Food Safety
and Inspection Service operations as well as how to
strengthen the food supply chain.
Traceability, internal auditing, accreditation and food fraud
will also be addressed in educational sessions and workshops.
Early bird registration is available until June 30. More
information is available at foodsafetyconsortium.org.
Food Safety Tech is an online journal and newsletter
providing insight on food safety, quality assurance and
regulatory compliance to food manufacturers and processors,
retail and food service providers, food laboratories, growers,
suppliers and vendors, and regulatory agencies.
" Our partnership with AFFI is a significant enhancement
to the Food Safety Consortium Conference, " Rick Biros,
publisher of Food Safety Tech and director of the Food
Safety Consortium, said in the release. " AFFI's commitment
to food safety and professional education will provide
attendees with an unparalleled opportunity to enhance their
learning, connect with regulators, industry leaders and
ultimately better serve their organizations and end users. "
AFFI is a national trade association representing all
segments of the frozen food supply chain from
manufacturers to suppliers and distributors. Its members
include the fruit and vegetable growers, suppliers and
distributors that account for more than 670,000 U.S. jobs,
according to the organization's website.
Founded in 1942 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia,
AFFI advocates before legislative and regulatory entities on
the industry's behalf.
FROZEN FOOD POLICY FOCUSES
Last month, frozen food industry leaders gathered in
Washington, D.C., for AFFI's 2024 Government Action
Summit. Attendees called for Congress to support sciencebased
regulatory decision-making from the U.S. Food &
Drug Administration (FDA) and passage of the Supporting
All Healthy Options When Purchasing Produce (SHOPP) Act.
" Virtually every household in the United States enjoys
frozen food, and America's frozen food processors work
diligently to provide the safe, nutritious and high-quality
foods that families expect, " Bodor said. " The Government
Action Summit is the opportunity for our membership to
collectively voice the industry's call for practical, sciencebased
policies that will both benefit consumers and allow
for future innovation and growth. "
The 13th annual Food Safety Consortium will bring together leading food
safety and quality assurance professionals to learn about cutting-edge food
and beverage production innovation Oct. 20-22 in Arlington, Virginia.
Photo courtesy of Food Safety Tech.
Industry leaders focused on three key policy issues during
the April 11 summit:
Federally managed chemical review process: AFFI
asked that Congress appropriately fund the FDA's Human
Foods Program and Office of Chemical Safety in its function
dedicated to post-market chemical review, thus supporting
an effective and uniform federal approach to chemical and
ingredient review.
Science-driven listeria policy: AFFI asked that Congress
require the FDA to incorporate the latest available science
regarding Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) as the agency
updates its Compliance Policy Guide. Science demonstrates
that frozen foods do not support the growth of Lm, and thus
the pathogen poses a remote public health risk in such
foods, according to AFFI.
SHOPP Act: AFFI called for passage of the SHOPP Act,
which would amend and modernize the Gus Schumacher
Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) and Produce
Prescription Program to include more frozen fruits
and vegetables.
" Whether through reduced food waste thanks to its longer
shelf life, delicious new offerings and global flavors, or array
of better-for-you recipes, frozen food provides valuable
benefits to consumers, " Bodor said. " AFFI is pleased to bring
its membership to Congress to further tell this story and
engage in the policymaking process. "
PRODUCE PROCESS ING
17
http://www.foodsafetyconsortium.org
May/June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2024
