Comments
Submitted RE:
GMA Comments on FDA Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition FY 2002 Program Priorities
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration 5630 Fishers Lane,
Room 1061 Rockville, MD 20852
Re: Docket No. 98N-0359; Program Priorities
in the Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, Fiscal Year 2002; Request for
Comments
The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) is
pleased to offer comments concerning program
priorities for the Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) for fiscal year (FY)
2002 (October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002).
GMA supports CFSAN's ongoing efforts to prioritize
its workload to focus resources on core
activities, and appreciates this opportunity to
participate in the priority-setting process.
GMA is the world's largest association of food,
beverage, and consumer product companies. With
U.S. sales of more than $450 billion, GMA members
employ more than 2.5 million workers in all 50
states. GMA speaks for food and consumer product
manufacturers at the state, federal and
international levels on legislative and regulatory
issues.
The following comments relate to CFSAN's
program priorities in the regulation of food and
beverage products. For ease of reference, topics
are addressed in the order in which they appear in
the FY 2001 work plan.
FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE
GMA urges CFSAN's continued emphasis on food
safety as the Center's top priority. While CFSAN
has undertaken many worthwhile projects as part of
the Food Safety Initiative (FSI), a number of
projects in particular merit special attention,
resources, and continued placement on the "A" list
in FY 2002. Among these are completion of the
planned egg safety proposal, initiation of a
salmonella enteritidis (SE) research plan,
continued risk assessment and risk communication
efforts as identified in the FY 2001 work plan,
and adequate inspection coverage of both domestic
and imported foods, with priority placed on
facilities representing the highest food safety
risks.
Activities related to Listeria monocytogenes
(LM) also warrant continued "A" list attention,
particularly with regard to risk assessment and
risk communication. Publication of the draft LM
risk assessment represented an important
milestone, but additional data are needed to
generate product/pathway-specific risk assessments
that would better serve as a guide to future
agency action. Only by fully exploring the nature
and extent of risks imposed by specific food
categories, and the handling and holding practices
that characterize them, can effective,
scientifically sound control strategies be
identified and applied. Along these lines, to the
extent that adequate data are available for
particular food categories, CFSAN should explore
the possibility of establishing tolerances for
those categories so that resources may be
concentrated on the foods that present the
greatest risk of listeriosis.
Risk communication is important to all FSI
areas of concern but is particularly vital to the
control and prevention of LM, which can be harmful
to susceptible populations. GMA encourages CFSAN
to maintain as an "A" list priority consumer and
health care professional information and education
efforts regarding LM, targeting at-risk
populations. GMA also supports continued emphasis
on related education programs such as the
secondary schools food safety curriculum. To
accomplish these and other FSI projects in the
most effective manner possible, coordination of
federal, state, and local efforts is critical.
While some progress has been made in eliminating
the existing patchwork of food safety
requirements, additional efforts are needed to
avoid inconsistent standards, and to ensure
coordinated regulatory responses when
safety-related incidents occur.
NUTRITION, HEALTH CLAIMS, AND LABELING
GMA supports promotion to the "A" list items of
a proposed rule on food irradiation labeling
approaches. The current labeling scheme has the
tendency to alarm consumers unnecessarily about
use of a technology that is considered by CFSAN
and other major governmental and nongovernmental
public health organizations to be safe and
beneficial under its intended conditions of use.
Action is needed to provide more accurate and
nonmisleading labeling alternatives to ensure that
consumers are fully informed and are not misled
regarding the nature of foods that have been
treated with irradiation to ensure food safety.
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
GMA supports continued emphasis on dietary
supplement issues identified in the FY 2001 work
plan, including publication of the dietary
supplement GMP proposal, rapid identification of
high priority safety issues, initiation of
enforcement actions against unsafe products and
unsubstantiated claims, and development of an
effective adverse event reporting (AER) system.
GMA also urges CFSAN to ensure consistent
regulatory treatment of dietary supplements and
conventional foods, particularly with regard to
the clear First Amendment guidelines provided by
the court in Pearson v. Shalala.
SCIENCE BASE
Sound science is the underpinning to CFSAN's
food safety efforts, among other regulatory
initiatives. Accordingly, attention to CFSAN's
research agenda and risk analysis efforts is
critical, as discussed elsewhere in these
comments. GMA also supports continued "A" list
attention to such matters as implementation of a
new Food Advisory Committee structure, which would
enhance the Committee's ability to provide expert
scientific advice in the critical areas of dietary
supplements, food additives and ingredients,
contaminants and natural toxicants, and food
biotechnology.
INTERNATIONAL
GMA is committed to meaningful liberalization
of international trade in food and beverages. Such
liberalization is critically dependent upon
scientifically sound applications of sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) measures and elimination of
technical barriers to trade. To ensure the
development of appropriate scientific measures on
a global basis, GMA supports a continued "A" list
designation for CFSAN's work in Codex, JECFA, WHO
food safety planning programs, and NAFTA technical
working groups. Participation in Codex is
particularly important in an era in which the
so-called "precautionary principle" is being
increasingly cited as a justification for
disguised trade barriers.
EMERGING AREAS-FOOD ALLERGENS
GMA member companies are committed to meeting
the needs of the food allergic community. GMA,
along with numerous other food trade associations
and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network,
formed the Allergy Issues Alliance several years
ago because the food industry wished to
proactively address the allergen issue. The
Alliance has published an Allergen Labeling
Program that provides labeling guidelines for
foods that contain allergenic proteins from the
"Big 8" major allergens.
GMA encourages CFSAN to develop and maintain a
strong enforcement presence with regard to food
allergens. GMA also urges CFSAN to recognize the
progress the industry has made in reaching
consensus as to effective GMP and labeling
measures that address allergen concerns, and to
refrain from considering additional regulations as
industry guidelines are implemented. Additional
regulations are unnecessary as CFSAN's existing
statutory framework and regulatory tools provide
ample authority to take all necessary and
appropriate actions to protect public health.
EMERGING AREAS-BIOTECHNOLOGY
To ensure that consumers are not misled
regarding the use of modern biotechnology in the
production of food, GMA urges CFSAN to designate
as an "A" list priority issuance of final labeling
guidance on voluntary label statements indicating
whether a food has or has not been developed using
modern biotechnology. The final guidance must make
clear, consistent with CFSAN's proposal, that
misleading claims (e.g., "GMO free") are not
permitted. GMA also recommends that CFSAN finalize
its biotechnology mandatory premarket notification
proposal.
EMERGING AREAS-BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY
The recently published BSE/TSE Action Plan of
the Department of Health and Human Services, 66
Fed. Reg. 44146 (Aug. 22, 2001) identifies several
action items that FDA has undertaken to enhance,
sustain, and communicate safeguards against BSE
and TSE. GMA urges FDA to focus in particular, and
to designate as an "A" list item, expansion of its
regulatory research agenda regarding TSEs. While
existing border controls must continue to provide
the first line of defense, progress must be made
in advancing understanding of BSE/TSE infectious
agents. Critical research needs include studies to
evaluate the safety and effectiveness of
sterilization, decontamination, and inactivation
procedures for BSE/TSE agents.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION FOR PRIORITY
STATUS
GMA requests that CFSAN add to its list of
priorities incorporation of the most recent
edition of the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC)
standards into appropriate parts of 21 C.F.R. This
action is needed to update those regulations that
reference the FCC. Many of the specifications and
test methods referenced in 21 CFR are to earlier
versions of the FCC that have since been revised.
By way of example, many of the more recent
monographs have stricter specifications for heavy
metals than those referenced in the regulations.
By using the current FCC specifications CFSAN will
ensure that the most recent information about food
additives and GRAS substances is incorporated in
its regulations. Such actions also will eliminate
the confusion of whether manufacturers should
adopt the specifications in the existing FCC
monographs or the specifications cross-referenced
in the food additive and GRAS regulations.
* * * * *
GMA is committed to enhancing the safety and
quality of America's food supply through
cooperative, science-based efforts of industry and
government. GMA looks forward to working with the
Agency in FY 2002 and beyond and would be pleased
to discuss with CFSAN any of the points made in
these comments.
Sincerely,
Susan Ferenc, DVM, Ph.D. Vice President,
Scientific and Regulatory Policy
Respectfully submitted,
Susan
Ferenc Vice President, Scientific and
Regulatory Policy Grocery Manufacturers of
America, Inc.
* * *
Press Contacts
Related GMA Documents dealing
with - FOOD SAFETY
BUZZ
- January
9, 2002 U. S. Food and Drug
Administration Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition --- Food Security Preventive
Measures Guidance
COMMENT
- July
8, 2003 GMA Comments on Administrative
Detention of Food for Human or Animal
Consumption Under the Public Health Security and
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2002; Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking
- July
8, 2003 GMA Comments on Establishment
and Maintenance of Records Under the Public
Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness
and Response Act of 2002
- April
4, 2003 GMA Comments: Prior Notice of
Imported Food Under the Public Health Security
and Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2002;
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- April
4, 2003 GMA Comments: Registration of
Food Facilities Under the Public Health Security
and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act
of 2002; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- October
30, 2002 Docket No. 02N-0393;
Assessing Acrylamide in the U.S. Food Supply;
Public Meeting; Draft Action Plan on Acrylamide;
Availability; 67 Fed. Reg. 57827 (Sept. 12,
2002)
- August
30, 2002 Pre-proposal Comments on
Implementation of the "Public Health Security
and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act
of 2002"
- September
20, 2001 GMA Comments on FDA Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition FY 2002
Program Priorities
- September
10, 2001 GMA Comments on USDA Proposed
Rule to Establish Performance Standards for the
Production of Processed Meat and Poultry
Products
- August
28, 2001 GMA Comments on 2001 Codex
Committee on Food Hygiene Regarding
Objectionable Matter in Food
- August
25, 2000 GMA Comments, 2001 Program
Priorities for FDA Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition
- February
14, 2000 GMA Comments on President's
Council on Food Safety Strategic Plan
- September
30, 1999 Program Priorities in the
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
- September
1, 1999 President's Council on Food
Safety Strategic Plan
- September
1, 1999 President's Council on Food
Safety Strategic Plan
- March
8, 1999 Notice of Public Meeting on
Listeria Monocytogenes
- May
22, 1998 Food Labeling: Warning and
Notice Statements; Labeling of Juice Products
CORRESPONDENCE
- June
30, 2003 GMA Letter of Opposition to
SB 677 (Ortiz)
- June
17, 2003 GMA opposition to Assembly
Bill 256
- June
10, 2003 GMA Letter of Opposition to
New York Milk Protein Concentrate Bill
- May
15, 2003 GMA Letter of Opposition to
California Candy Legislation
- April
29, 2003 GMA Letter of Opposition
Unless Amended to California Chocolate Bill
- April
2, 2003 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Colorado Food Manufacturer Fees
- September
5, 2000 GMA Letter, House
Appropriations Committee Members, Support
Funding for FDA Food Safety Laboratory
- February
25, 2000 Industry Coalition Letter to
House Appropriators -- Support FDA Funding
Increase
NEWS
RELEASE
- July
9, 2003 BIOTERRORISM RULES MUST ENSURE
SAFETY OF U.S. FOOD SUPPLY WITHOUT BURDENING FDA
OR INDUSTRY UNNECESSARILY
- June
23, 2003 NEW GMA CHAIR DEEMS
TECHNOLOGY, FOOD SAFETY CRITICAL
Gillette
Chairman & CEO Jim Kilts Outlines Upcoming
Challenges for CPG Industry
- May
6, 2003 GMA SAYS PROPOSED BIOTERRORISM
RULES MUST BE “STREAMLINED AND COMMERCIALLY
FEASIBLE” TO ENSURE FOOD SAFETY
- April
25, 2003 FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION
IDENTIFIED AS “CRITICAL” INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT
PRIORITIES
GMA Represents the Private Sector
at PAHO Health and Agriculture Ministerial
Meeting
- April
4, 2003 GMA CALLS FOR MODIFICATIONS IN
PROPOSED FDA RULES TO BETTER PROTECT THE U.S.
FOOD SUPPLY
“Unintended Consequences” Could
Sink Food Security System
- February
25, 2003 CONTINUING ACRYLAMIDE
RESEARCH SHOWS NO KNOWN RISKS
GMA and FDA Say
Varying Exposure Levels Do Not Require Dietary
Changes
- January
29, 2003 PROPOSED BIOTERRORISM RULES
TO PROTECT U.S. FOOD SECURITY
GMA Stresses
Need to Minimize Disruptions to Food Supply
- December
4, 2002
PRELIMINARY DATA ON ACRYLAMIDE INDICATES
NO KNOWN HUMAN HEALTH RISKS
GMA Agrees with
FDA: No Dietary Changes Needed
- October
10, 2002
INDUSTRY COOPERATION CRITICAL IN
ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGE
GMA CEO
Says Industry "Must Remain Vigilant" in Tackling
Bioterrorism Threat
- June
27, 2002 GMA RESPONDS TO WHO
STATEMENTS ON ACRYLAMIDE
Government, Food
Industry Advise Consumers Not To Change Dietary
Habits
- June
25, 2002 SCIENTISTS AND OFFICIALS SAY
NO CHANGES IN DIET NEEDED
GMA Warns Against
CSPI Scare Tactics On Acrylamide
- May
22, 2002 GMA Calls Bioterrorism
Conference Bill “A Much Improved Product”
- March
22, 2002 GMA Urges Congress to Approve
President Bush’s Budget Request for Increased
Food Safety Funds
- March
12, 2002 GMA SAYS TOM RIDGE’S NEW
ADVISORY SYSTEM WILL HELP KEEP AMERICA’S FOOD
SUPPLY SECURE
- March
12, 2002 GMA SAYS TOM RIDGE’S NEW
ADVISORY SYSTEM WILL HELP KEEP AMERICA’S FOOD
SUPPLY SECURE
- October
10, 2001 GMA President and CEO
Outlines Plan to Strengthen Food Safety Systems
- August
13, 2001 Food Industry Leading Efforts
To Better Inform Consumers About Food Allergies
- April
10, 2001 GMA'S MOLPUS LAUDS FUNDING
INCREASE FOR FOOD SAFETY; URGES FDA TO ALLOW USE
OF DISEASE PREVENTION CLAIMS
- April
5, 2001 INDUSTRY COALITION COMMISSIONS
STUDY OF GOVERNMENT DRAFT LISTERIA
ASSESSMENT PLAN
- December
1, 2000 GMA APPLAUDS NEW GOVERNMENT
INSTITUTE FOR FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH
- June
21, 2000 Better Use Of Existing
Authority, Not More Regulations, Key To
Enhancing Food Safety
- March
9, 2000 GMA: EU Should Not Undermine
Science-Based Trade, Food Safety Standards
- February
15, 2000 Food Safety Strategy Needs
Sharper Focus On Educating Consumers, Medical
Providers; Federal Strategic Plan Remains
"Broad, Vague"
- February
7, 2000 GMA: FDA Priorities
Appropriately Focus on Food Safety Education,
Awareness
- January
19, 2000 GMA: New USDA Recall Plan
Contradicts Govt. Food Safety Strategic Plan
- January
17, 2000 New USDA Recall Policy
"Counterproductive"
- January
13, 2000 GMA Calls for More Education
on Listeria, Not Ineffective Mandatory Testing
- January
11, 2000 Food Safety Plan Rightly
Keeps Focus on Coordination, Not Bureaucracy
- October
5, 1999 GMA: Explaining Biotech
Policy, Expanding Use of Irradiation, Should Be
Higher Priorities at FDA In Separate Comments,
GMA Urges Quick Action on Soy Petition
- September
16, 1999 GMA: New Foodborne Illness
Data Should Enhance Risk-Based Food Safety
Policy
- September
16, 1999 GMA: New Foodborne Illness
Data Should Enhance Risk-Based Food Safety
Policy
- September
3, 1999 GMA: Agencies Must Spell Out
How New Research Will Enhance Food Safety
- August
4, 1999 Let Food Safety Council Finish
The Job, GMA Tells Senate Panel
- August
2, 1999 GMA: GOVERNMENT LISTERIA
RESPONSE "HASTY, ILL CONCEIVED"; PROCEDURES MUST
BE SCIENCE-BASED
- July
15, 1999 GMA URGES PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL
TO MAKE SCIENCE-BASED PREVENTION KEY TO
ENHANCING FOOD SAFETY
- May
26, 1999 GMA: COLLINS' FOOD SAFETY
BILL "HEADED IN RIGHT DIRECTION"
- May
26, 1999 GMA: SENATE DEMOCRATIC FOOD
IMPORT BILL COULD ERECT UNNECESSARY TRADE
BARRIERS
- May
25, 1999 GMA LAUDS DECISION TO BRING
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW INTO PLAY IN CALIFORNIA PROP
65 PROCESS Scientists to Review Data on Food
Safety Ingredient
- May
25, 1999 GMA: USDA "Best Practice"
Guidelines For Listeria Parallel Industry
Commitment To Food Safety Efforts
- March
16, 1999 FOOD INDUSTRY SUPPORTS
INCREASED FOOD SAFETY FUNDING, GMA TELLS KEY
HOUSE, SENATE PANELS But Says Congress Should
Reject General Purpose User Fees
- March
15, 1999 GMA: END-PRODUCT SAMPLING
INEFFECTIVE; FIGHT LISTERIA WITH BETTER
HANDLING, PROCESSING
- March
15, 1999 GMA: FOOD SAFETY REPORT SHOWS
NEED FOR BETTER COORDINATION, PLANNING But No
Reason Shown to Create Single Food Safety
Bureaucracy
- February
25, 1999 GMA: PUBLIC SHOULD AVOID
ALARMISTS' "BANDWAGON OF FEAR" Consumers Should
Continue Eating Healthy Produce
- February
24, 1999 GMA: FOOD SAFETY BILL SHOULD
EMPHASIZE RESEARCH, RATHER THAN INSPECTION
AUTHORITY
- February
1, 1999 LIKE WEEDS, FOOD USER FEES
SHOULD BE PULLED FROM USDA BUDGET, SAYS GMA
Proposal Represents "Unauthorized Tax"
- January
8, 1999 FDA'S NEW FOOD SAFETY DIRECTOR
HAS EXPERTISE, STATURE TO BE EFFECTIVE LEADER,
SAYS GMA SCIENTIST
- January
2, 1999 FOOD USER FEES WOULD DISTRACT
EFFORTS TO ENHANCE FOOD SAFETY, SAYS GMA
- December
17, 1998 GMA URGES ADMINISTRATION,
CONGRESS TO REJECT FOOD USER FEES IN FOOD SAFETY
BUDGET Proposal Represents "Unauthorized Tax"
- October
2, 1998 U. S. Food Safety Can Be
Enhanced Within Existing Regulatory Framework,
GMA Tells Presidential Panel
- October
1, 1998 FDA Rules "Unlawfully"
Restrict Communicating Food Health Benefits To
Consumers, Says GMA Group Urges Agency to
Withdraw Dietary Supplement Proposal
- September
28, 1998 DROP IN SALMONELLA OCCURRENCE
SUBSTANTIATES FOOD INDUSTRY APPROACH, SAYS GMA
"Real Science, Real Prevention Provide Real
Results"
- September
24, 1998 Research, Prevention - Not
More Inspectors - Need To Be Food Safety Focus,
Says GMA
- September
8, 1998 GMA OPPOSES FDA PASTEURIZATION
RULE FOR LACK OF CLARITY, OMISSION OF UNPACKAGED
JUICES
- September
1, 1998 FOOD INDUSTRY URGES FDA
NOMINEE TO PUT FOOD ISSUES ON EQUAL LEVEL
- August
31, 1998 LABOR DAY BELONGS IN THE
BACKYARD, NOT THE E.R. New Survey Shows 80% of
Consumers Hear Food Safety Message - But Is
Everybody Listening?
- August
25, 1998 New Council Offers Chance For
"Consistent Coordination Of Food Safety Law,"
Says GMA High Level Review Avoids "Disruptive
Restructuring"
- August
20, 1998 GMA: Congress, Regulators
Must Fully Digest New Report On Food Safety
Structure Before Making Changes
- August
20, 1998 U.S. Food Industry Applauds
NAS For Including Science-Based Approach For
Food Safety Task Force Cautions Against
Disruptive Agency Reorganization
- August
4, 1998 GMA-BACKED NATIONAL UNIFORMITY
FOR FOOD ACT PROMOTES CLEAR, CONCISE LABELS FOR
CONSUMERS
- June
24, 1998 ADVENT OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS,
FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS, GLOBAL MARKETS CREATES NEW
PRIORITIES FOR FDA, GMA SAYS
- June
17, 1998 "STRONG FOOD SAFETY NET IN
PLACE; U.S. SHOULD NOT BE FOOD POLICE FOR THE
WORLD," SAYS GMA
- June
3, 1998 REGULATORY REFORM BILL WILL
ENHANCE FOOD SAFETY, SAYS GMA Process Would Be
More Accountable, Modern, & Efficient
- May
21, 1998 GMA MEMORIAL DAY TIPS FOR
CONSUMERS: PRACTICE FOOD SAFETY, AVOID ACTIVIST
GROUPS' SCARE TACTICS
- May
11, 1998 FDA NEEDS APPROPRIATE
RESOURCES, NOT MORE POWER, TO MEDDLE IN FOREIGN
COUNTRIES, SAYS GMA
- April
30, 1998 NEW ORGANIC STANDARDS ARE A
"WIN" FOR CONSUMERS, PRODUCERS, FOOD COMPANIES,
SAYS GMA
- April
29, 1998 U.S. FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM NEEDS
CHANGE IN FOCUS, NOT IN STRUCTURE, SAYS GMA
- April
7, 1998 SOUND SCIENCE, POLICYMAKING,
EDUCATION, CALLED "NECESSARY INGREDIENTS" FOR
IRRADIATION ACCEPTANCE, SAYS GMA
- March
31, 1998 "CHICKEN LITTLE" TACTICS
UNWARRANTED; FOOD INDUSTRY ALREADY USES WORLD'S
BEST FOOD SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, SAYS GMA
- March
31, 1998 TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES
- March
19, 1998 GMA WELCOMES NEW WEAPON IN
FIGHT AGAINST SALMONELLA
- March
5, 1998 GMA SAYS EPA PESTICIDE
BROCHURE IS "NEGATIVE AND ALARMIST"; CALLS FOR
REVISIONS TO INSTILL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
- March
4, 1998 GMA TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT
ADMINISTRATION'S FOOD SAFETY PROPOSAL FOR
IMPORTS
- February
26, 1998 GMA: FOOD SAFETY IS PRIORITY
NUMBER ONE FOR FOOD INDUSTRY;ACTIVIST REPORT
ALLEGATIONS ARE "IRRESPONSIBLE AND OUT OF LINE"
- February
10, 1998 GMA ENTERS BATTLE TO PROTECT
CONSUMERS AGAINST MISLABELED PRODUCTS
- February
4, 1998 GROCERY MANUFACTURERS CALL
LATEST REGULATORY BILLS "DUPLICATIVE AND
UNNECESSARY"
- February
3, 1998 GMA URGES CONGRESS TO REJECT
"REGRESSIVE" FOOD USER FEES
- January
29, 1998 GMA LAUDS CLINTON'S FOOD
SAFETY EFFORTS; WARNS AGAINST USER FEES
- January
29, 1998 GMA: ACTIVIST GROUP CHARGES
ON PESTICIDE EXPOSURE ARE "ALARMIST" AND
HYPOTHETICAL"
- January
19, 1998 NO MAJOR CHANGES NEEDED IN
WTO FOOD SAFETY STANDARD AGREEMENT, SAYS GMA
TESTIMONY
- March
20, 2003 GMA Testimony Regarding the
President's 2004 Budget Proposal
- October
10, 2001 GMA Testimony on
Strengthening Food Safety Systems
- August
3, 1999 GMA Testimony, Senate
Committee on Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee
on Oversight of Government Management,
Restructuring, and the District of Columbia,
"Overlap and Duplication in the Federal Food
Safety System"
- April
12, 1999 GMA strongly opposes H.B.
3129
- March
2, 1999 GMA testifies before Senate
Special Committee on Y2K
- October
2, 1998 President's National Food
Safety Initiative
- September
25, 1998 Imported Food Safety: A Food
Industry Perspective
- May
14, 1998 The Adequacy of Systems and
Procedures Used by Federal Agencies to Ensure
the Safety of Foods Imported into the United
States
Related GMA Documents dealing
with - NUTRITION ISSUES
BUZZ
- May
31, 2000 ConAgra Chairman & CEO
and GMA Board Member Bruce Rohde Speaks at
National Nutrition Summit
- February
4, 2000 USDA Releases Draft Dietary
Guidelines
COMMENT
- September
20, 2001 GMA Comments on FDA Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition FY 2002
Program Priorities
- September
25, 2000 GMA Comments to FDA, Food
Labeling: Citizens Petition on Added Sugars
- August
25, 2000 GMA Comments, 2001 Program
Priorities for FDA Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition
- February
7, 2000 GMA Petition to Food and Drug
Administration: Reconsideration and Stay of
Action, Structure/Function Claims
- December
21, 1999 Food Labeling: Trans Fatty
Acids in Nutrition Labeling, Nutrient Content
Claims, and Health Claims ----------- Request
for an Extension of Time to File Comments
CORRESPONDENCE
- February
5, 2003 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Hawaii School Vending Restriction Bill
- February
5, 2003 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Kentucky School Vending Bill
- January
18, 2003 Letter of opposition to HB
2403 (Van Yahres), scheduled for hearing in the
Teachers and Admin. Action Subcommittee on
January 20.
- January
7, 2003 Letter to reiterate support
for full funding of the Carol M. White Physical
Education Program
- March
15, 2000 Letter to USDA/HHS: Dietary
Guidelines Advisory Committee Report on Proposed
2000 Dietary Guidelines
- January
30, 2000 Letter to Health Canada, Re
Vitamin and Mineral Addition to Foods Proposed
Policy Recommendations
NEWS RELEASE
- April
2, 2003 OBESITY AWARENESS EVIDENT IN
PRODUCT SALES
New Issue of GMA/IRI Times
& Trends Underscores Success of Innovative
Nutritional Products
- March
26, 2003 CONSUMERS SAY RESPONSIBILITY
FOR OBESITY LIES WITH INDIVIDUALS
New Survey
Indicates Large Majority Believe Smart Choices
are Key
- February
4, 2003 USDA 2004 BUDGET BOOSTS CHILD
NUTRITION PROGRAMS
But GMA Opposes User Fees
as Business Penalties
- November
4, 2002
GMA’S COMMITMENT TO HEALTH STARTS AT
HOME
Grocery Manufacturers of America
Celebrates
“Staff Wellness Day”
- October
31, 2002
WHO ISSUES TOP HEALTH RISKS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
GMA Says International Focus Should Be
on Education Not Criticizing Certain
Foods
- September
19, 2002 GMA SUPPORTS HOUSE FITNESS
& NUTRITION BILL
- September
5, 2002 GMA COMMENDS NAS EATING AND
EXERCISE TARGETS
Report Offers Flexible
Dietary Guidelines; Calls for More Physical
Activity
- July
30, 2002 GMA APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF
FITNESS
AND NUTRITION BILL IMPACT Act Focuses on
Education, Opportunity, Research
- June
2, 2002
WELLNESS BENEFITS DRIVE FOOD AND
BEVERAGE SALES
New Issue of GMA/IRI Times
& Trends Outlines Keys to New Product
Success
- May
28, 2002 Nutritionist Alison Kretser
Joins GMA as Director, Scientific and Nutrition
Policy
- May
21, 2002 GMA Tells Senate Committee
Increased Physical Activity, Better Nutrition
Education Essential to Beat Obesity
- May
1, 2002 GMA Celebrates National P.E.
Day, Joins Coalition Urging Increased Federal
Funding For P.E. Classes
- April
25, 2002 GMA Applauds Effort by
Thompson and Veneman To Promote “5 A Day”
Program and Physical Activity
- January
22, 2002
HHS PREVENTION INITIATIVE WILL IMPROVE
AMERICAN LIFESTYLES
Community Programs Will
Address the Specific Needs of Local
Populations
- January
15, 2002 New GMA Survey: 89% Of
Americans Say Individuals Themselves Responsible
For Obesity Problem
- December
13, 2001 GMA Says HHS “Call to Action”
on Obesity Lays Groundwork for Preventive Action
- September
27, 2000 Added Sugar Labeling Would
Mislead Consumers, Falsely Imply Health
Concerns; GMA Urges FDA To Deny Activist Group
Petition
- September
27, 2000 Dietary Choice, Increased
Physical Activity Will Better Meet Child Health
Challenges; Group Urges School Health Summit to
`Put Phys Ed. Back Into Play'
- May
30, 2000 GMA Honors Anti-Hunger
Partners At National Nutrition Summit
- May
27, 2000 Dietary Guidelines "Follow
The Science," Wisely Avoid "The Blame Game"
- May
25, 2000 GMA: Nutrition Challenges
Deserve Comprehensive Approaches, Not
"Accusations Or Finger Pointing"
- March
10, 2000 Federal Advice On Sugar
Intake "Undermines" Dietary Guidelines Report
- February
10, 2000 GMA Requests FDA To Halt
Action On Disease Claim Rules; Group Says Rule
"Tantamount to Ban on Commercial Speech"
TESTIMONY
- March
25, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
California Soft Drink Tax Bill
- March
14, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Connecticut Restrictive School Food Sales Bill
- March
13, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Maryland Restrictive School Advertising Bill
- March
13, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Maryland Restrictive School Vending Bill
- February
19, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Oklahoma School Vending and P.E. Bill
- February
8, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Washington Selective Food Tax
- February
7, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Hawaii Restrictive School Nutrition Bill
- February
7, 2002 GMA Letter of Opposition to
Virginia Vending in Schools Bill
- August
24, 2001 Californians for Sensible
School Nutrition Policy Letter of Opposition to
CA Senate Bill 19 Before the Assembly Education
Committee
- August
24, 2001 GMA Letter of Opposition to
CA Senate Bill 19 Before the Assembly Education
Committee
- August
21, 2001 Californians for Sensible
School Nutrition Policy Letter of Opposition to
California Senate Bill 19
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