As reported on MNB on Monday, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) yesterday proposed what it called a unique public-private partnership to beef up federal oversight of food imports while requiring the food industry to adopt additional food safety measures.
However, even as GMA was making its official announcement yesterday, Consumers Union criticized the proposal, saying that GMA did not address what it called “needed key food safety reforms, including Country of Origin labeling and enactment of clear Food and Drug Administration recall authority.”
"If the industry is serious about maintaining consumer confidence in the food supply, they must endorse these measures," said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives at Consumers Union, in a prepared statement.
Consumers Union said that its polls show that 92 percent of Americans favor mandatory Country of Origin labeling, and 97 percent think federal agencies should have the authority to recall tainted meat.
However, even as GMA was making its official announcement yesterday, Consumers Union criticized the proposal, saying that GMA did not address what it called “needed key food safety reforms, including Country of Origin labeling and enactment of clear Food and Drug Administration recall authority.”
"If the industry is serious about maintaining consumer confidence in the food supply, they must endorse these measures," said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives at Consumers Union, in a prepared statement.
Consumers Union said that its polls show that 92 percent of Americans favor mandatory Country of Origin labeling, and 97 percent think federal agencies should have the authority to recall tainted meat.
- KC's View:
- Some sort of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) system has to be created in the US if consumers are to continue to have confidence not just in the food supply, but in government’s and industry’s ability to instantly know where food has come from.
