- Almond grower calls NRCS conservation planning process a "Win-Win"
- Meeting Challenges
- Water Ways: Drought: Year 3
- Food Safety & Technology Symposiums Coming Up
- Court Ruling Adds New Permitting Requirements for Pesticide Applications
- Almond Growers Planning Soil Fumigations Face Challenging Year
- Almond Research Posters Take Top Placings
- Updated Government Affairs: Food Safety Legislation
- Almond Board CEO Promotes Almonds in Poland
JUNE
2 PR and Advertising Committee 10:00AM 18 Food Quality & Safety Committee 9:30AM 23 Pasteurization Symposium - Lodi 8:00AM 24 FQ&S Symposium - Lodi 8:00AM -
30 2009 Objective Measurement Forecast 12:00PM
JULY
1 International Committee Meeting 9:30AM 7 PR and Advertising Committee 10:00AM 15 Almond Board of California Meeting 9:30AM
Government Affairs
FOOD SAFETY LEGISLATION
IN THE AFTERMATH of the recent pistachio recall over Salmonella concerns, legislation was introduced in the California Senate to give the state the authority to order a mandatory recall in the event a food processor does not initiate a recall after testing reveals a tainted food product.
In addition to the mandatory recall authority, SB 173 by Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) originally provided that a processor and/or grower must immediately notify the state of any private testing that revealed a tainted food product. If a processor chose not to conduct its own testing, and a recall later took place, it would have faced an automatic shutdown for six months and been required to cover all of the state’s cost related to the outbreak.
The bill was approved by the Senate Health Committee on May 5 and the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 26. The Senate approved SB 173 on June 3 by a 26-12 vote and is awaiting consideration in the Assembly. However, instead of mandating recalls as originally proposed, the bill has been amended so it only allows state public-health officials to adopt regulations for voluntary recalls.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the eleventh annual Food Quality & Safety Symposium to be held June 24 at Wine & Roses in Lodi. Top industry experts will discuss food safety issues and challenges. New this year is a Pasteurization Technology Symposium, which will be held on June 23, also at Wine & Roses. These back-to-back symposiums run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day and are free to attend. For details and registration information see Food Safety & Technology Symposiums Coming Up, or contact Bunnie Ibrahim at 209-343-3228.
