FMI Still Pushing Senate to Pass Food Safety Bill ASAP

The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 isn’t likely to pass before the U.S. Senate takes its next recess, but that hasn’t stopped industry groups such as Food Marketing Institute from continuing to urge that its passage take place “as soon as possible.”

“We are extremely disappointed that the U.S. Senate has decided not to take up the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act before going to recess,” noted Jennifer Hatcher, SVP of government relations for Arlington, Va.-based FMI. “All of us — food industry, business groups, consumer groups … believe this bipartisan legislation should be passed by the Senate without further delay. This is a balanced bill focused on prevention. America’s consumers are counting on a public-private partnership to protect the safety of our food supply.”

Continued Hatcher: “The most important goal of America’s food retailers and wholesalers is to provide nutritious, safe, high-quality and affordable food. We all have a responsibility to work together to improve the safety of our food supply. We believe the focus should be on trying to prevent problems before they occur by providing FDA the necessary resources and authority to help the agency protect our food supply.”

She went on to commend the work of Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), as well as Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) “and others who played a vital role in creating a bipartisan bill.”