Sludge Watch ==> Food industry launches new advocacy group

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

If this group is going to help us understand the food system, then I'd like 
them to explain two things:

1. where is the investigation of Ecoli contaminated spinach in Monterey 
County where they found Ecoli spinach matching the exact fingerprint of the 
contaminated spinach in the outbreak in the area irrigated with Monterey 
sewage effluent?  Where did the investigation of those fields go?

and

2. How can spinach and lettuce irrigated with sewage effluent be called 
'organic'?

................................................................


Food industry launches new advocacy group
19.mar.07
Institute of Food Technologists
http://www.ift.org/cms/

A group of food industry organizations are launching a new entity, The 
Center for Food Integrity, to advocate for understanding of the contemporary 
food system. The Center for Food Integrity is a combination of The Grow 
America Project and Best Food Nation, two national initiatives established 
in 2006 to increase public understanding about the food system.
According to Andy Miller, Indiana Agriculture Director, the organization’s 
primary mission is to engage with stakeholders, model practices that build 
trust with consumers, and share accurate, balanced information about the 
U.S. food system.
“The Center for Food Integrity will be a resource where consumers and other 
stakeholders can find information about the food system and discuss 
important issues,” Miller says. “We are providing leadership in building 
consumer trust and confidence in the contemporary U.S. food system.”
Miller said the new entity has support from more than 20 organizations 
representing each segment of the food chain, including farmers and ranchers, 
processors, and companies that deliver food products under local, regional 
and global brand names, and government.
In the next few months, The Center for Food Integrity will coordinate teams 
to provide strategic leadership for addressing five important issues: 1) 
health and nutrition; 2) food safety; 3) worker care; 4) environment, and; 
5) food animal well being. Within these areas, The Center for Food Integrity 
will work with its members to develop, recognize and celebrate responsible 
practices that build trust in our food system.

“We know that we need to continually enhance our production methods to make 
sure they are aligned with societal expectations,” says McCloskey. “But most 
importantly, we want to establish a culture of trust and transparency that 
ensures the availability of safe, abundant and affordable food.”
The Center for Food Integrity is supported by the American Egg Board, The 
American Farm Bureau Federation, Countrymark Cooperative, Elanco Animal 
Health, Fair Oaks Dairy Farm, Indiana Packers Corporation, Indiana State 
Department of Agriculture, Maple Leaf Farms, Monsanto, National Chicken 
Council, National Council of Chain Restaurants, National Milk Producers 
Federation, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, National 
Restaurant Association, National Turkey Federation, Produce Marketing 
Association, Purdue University, United Egg Producers, and United Soybean 
Board.