This message contains images. If you don't see images, click here to view. Click here to advertise in this news brief.   Mobile version   RSS   Subscribe   Unsubscribe   Archive   Media Kit Jan. 31, 2012 Home   Public Policy   Member Services   Industry Resources    Events    News & Media   About Us     Food leaders urge Obama administration to nix food safety fees The Hill A coalition of more than 30 food industry groups wrote to the Obama administration Monday urging officials to request more congressional funding for food safety efforts instead of relying on food taxes. Editor's note: The American Frozen Food Institute is cited in this story for leading a food group coalition that is urging the administration against imposing new regulatory fees. Related articles: Food industry tells Obama: No food safety fees (Food Safety News) Industry coalition advises against new fees (Food Chemical News) More Share this article >     Store brands step up their games — and prices The Wall Street Journal Every year, U.S. shoppers buy more generic goods, many of them trading down from more expensive, name-brand labels to save money. But consumers are developing loyalty to store brands for reasons besides price, and that could be a problem for food and consumer products companies as the economy rebounds. More Share this article >     Consumers Union calls for salt reduction in processed food Consumer Reports Nearly 7,000 consumers joined Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, in a recent petition supporting regulatory efforts to set national, industry-wide targets to reduce sodium in processed and restaurant foods. Related article: FSA will not set new salt reduction targets (FoodManufacture) More Share this article >     Romney anticipates big win in Florida The Hill Mitt Romney appears poised to win Florida's primary Tuesday, coming back from prior stumbles to emerge a stronger, more confident candidate. More Share this article >     Will Romney-Gingrich battle lead to costly split in GOP? The Washington Post Newt Gingrich has vowed to take his fight for the Republican presidential nomination all the way to the party's national convention in August. Could his battle against Mitt Romney leave the GOP badly divided heading into the fall campaign? More Share this article >     Gingrich raised $5 million in January, $10 million in fourth quarter The Washington Post Newt Gingrich raised $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and has pulled in another $5 million in January, his campaign announced via Twitter Tuesday. More Share this article >     Transportation bills: Major differences in House, Senate versions POLITICO With two months remaining to finish a long-term surface transportation bill, the House and Senate are racing this week to mark up several portions of their dueling legislation. Related articles: House Republicans to unveil transportation bill (The Washington Post) Transportation law rewrite finally to roll (The Hill) More Share this article >     Agencies to share all information on GM plants Office of the Federal Register USDA, FDA and EPA have agreed to a new understanding that will encourage cooperation and communication in the regulatory oversight of genetically engineered plants and the foods derived from such plants. Under the new agreement, to be published in an upcoming edition of the Federal Register, the agencies will exchange details of GM plants and foods, including information exempt from public disclosure usually referred to as "confidential business information" and/or "trade secrets." More Share this article >     School lunch amendments published Federal Register The proposed rule amending the National School Lunch Program has been published, with the full text explaining how NSLP regulations will incorporate provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. More Share this article >     House members introduce egg production bill National Hog Farmer Congressmen Sam Farr, D-Calif., Jeff Denham, R-Calif., Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., have introduced the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 to codify the agreement between the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society to establish a national standard on cage sizes and enriched housing for laying hens. More Share this article >     Petition to Obama: Cease FDA ties to Monsanto The Washington Post A 2009 Food and Drug Administration appointment is stirring up online protests again, with a petition gaining steam in its calls for the ouster of FDA senior adviser Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto executive. More Share this article >     Antibiotic bans could lead to food safety issues Pork Network If antibiotic use in animals was unduly restricted, as some believe is necessary, it could have negative consequences for consumers, according to Tom Burkgren, DVM, executive director of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. More Share this article >     EU erecting trade barrier Agweek The European Union is attempting to use free trade agreements to convince other countries to impose "geographical indication" rules that would make it illegal for U.S. companies to use the names of cheeses and other products that originated in Europe. Related article: Does the US actually benefit from free trade? (PBS NewsHour) More Share this article >     EU food sector: Negative vote on nutrition claims proposal 'bad for consumers and business' FoodDrinkEurope The European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee today voted against the revised nutrition claims recently adopted by the European Commission, drawing renewed efforts from the food sector to ensure the denial is not endorsed during Parliament's plenary vote Thursday. More Share this article >     FDA to update approved animal drug list Office of the Federal Register More than 20 new animal drugs will be removed from the FDA's approved list because they no longer are being manufactured or marketed. More Share this article >     Group urges 'urgent overhaul' of BPA regulations Food Production Daily In a blunt call for action, the Center for Progressive Reform has urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration to impose tougher regulations and speed the pace of reform to cut consumer exposure to bisphenol A. More Share this article >     USDA extends guides for treatment of fruits, vegetables Office of the Federal Register USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is requesting an extension of existing regulations for the irradiation treatment of fruits and vegetables moving from Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland. More Share this article >     Transparency report available from FDA Office of the Federal Register The Food and Drug Administration is making available its report on the ongoing transparency initiative designed to make compliance and enforcement data more accessible and user-friendly. The report outlines eight transparency guidelines adopted by FDA in October. More Share this article >     Australia proposes new code to reduce food poisoning Food Processing Representatives from Australia's food and pest industries have prepared a new code of practice for the food industry, outlining HACCP-based best practices for both industries. More Share this article >     Convert Pallet into Carton Flow Span-Track carton flow track by UNEX ‘drops-in’ to any new or existing pallet rack structure. Span-Track’s full width roller provides more contact surface than any other carton flow. 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PepsiCo CEO: Food industry must embrace new growth paths Supermarket News The food industry needs to take bold steps — in everything from data practices to supply chain — to jump-start growth in the face of unprecedented hurdles, said John Compton, CEO, PepsiCo Americas Foods and Global Snacks Group. More Share this article >     ThermoSafe brands to raise prices in March Packaging Europe ThermoSafe Brands, a business unit of Sonoco, announced a price increase of up to 7 percent for most of its product portfolio, effective March 5. More Share this article >     Organic meat not free of drug-resistant bacteria Science If you're paying premium prices for pesticide- and antibiotic-free meat, you might expect it also is free of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Not so, according to a new study from the University of Iowa. More Share this article >     Restaurant chain less of a mystery in Salmonella outbreak Food Safety News The field is narrowing in the search for the mysterious "Restaurant Chain A" implicated by public health officials as the source of a Salmonella outbreak that sickened 68 people in 10 states in October and November. More Share this article >     JBT signs $4 million freezer deal with French processor Food Production Daily JBT FoodTech, a subsidiary of JBT Corp., has signed a deal worth more than $4 million to supply freezing solutions to a France-based food processing plant. More Share this article >     IPE speakers address poultry industry concerns ThePoultrySite In her opening remarks at the Pre-Harvest Food Safety Conference held during the 2012 International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo, Elisabeth Hagen, USDA undersecretary for food safety, tackled the importance of safety regulations. More Share this article >     Cap'n Crunch for cows: Reducing food waste Harvest Public Media Throwing food scraps to hogs and other farm animals is an age-old practice. As food production has become more industrialized, food factories have found ways to continue to recycle massive amounts of would-be food waste. Related article: Kraft Foods continues campaign against waste (Sustainable Plant) More Share this article >     Missouri food farms get loans to extend growing season Missouri Department of Agriculture Missouri farmers interested in growing fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and other produce during winter months may receive support from the new High Tunnel Loan Program. More Share this article >     Baking with sound Food Processing A U.K. consortium has secured more than $500,000 for an investigation into the use of ultrasound in the production of "free from" baked foods. More Share this article >     New frozen meal service launched for UK hospitals Caterer and Hotelkeeper Frozen food and catering solutions provider Apetito has launched a new plated meal service called CarteChoix. Aimed at hospitals, the new line aims to reduce food waste. More Share this article >     Mystery bug destroying Philippine rice USAgNet An unknown bug that so far has destroyed half of the rice fields in the Philippines is posing potentially devastating consequences to the country's staple food. More Share this article >     Mexico's blackberry boom, strawberry challenges FreshFruitPortal.com Mexico's blackberry and strawberry industries have grown significantly in recent years, but the latter has faced constraints this season because of higher volumes in Florida. More Share this article >     United States Cold Storage Nationwide cold storage warehousing, transportation and customized services 34 nationwide locations to serve you. MORE CO-PACKING. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. SOURCING & SUPPLY Harvest creates and manufactures innovative frozen food products for some of the best brands in the industry. From ingredient supply to complete meal creation, we can help you every step of the way. Harvest Food Group…Leading the Way in Frozen Foods. MORE   Frozen Express Colby Horton, Vice President of Publishing, (469) 420-2601 Download media kit Valerie Hunt, Content Editor, (469) 420-2690    Contribute news This edition of Frozen Express was sent to %%emailaddr%%. To unsubscribe, click here. Did someone forward this edition to you? Subscribe here -- it's free! Recent issues Jan. 31, 2012 Jan. 30, 2012 Jan. 27, 2012 Jan. 26, 2012 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063