Milling & Baking News - April 15, 2014 - 16

Business 

House bill looks to prevent state
bioengineered ingredient labeling
WASHINGTON - The Safe and Accurate
Food Labeling Act, a bill introduced into
the House of Representatives April 9, is
designed to prevent individual states from
passing legislation requiring the labeling
of food and beverage products that contain bioengineered ingredients. The bill
is co-sponsored by Representative Mike
Pompeo of Kansas and Representative
G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina.
Other aspects of the bill would make
mandatory a Food and Drug Administration safety review of all new bioengineered traits before they are brought to
market and enable the F.D.A. to mandate
labels on any product shown to pose a
health, safety or nutrition risk; directs the
F.D.A. to define the term "natural" for use
on food labels; and allows companies
manufacturing products made without
bioengineered ingredients to promote
that fact, but prevents them from suggesting the products are safer than foods produced with bioengineered ingredients.

"This bill is a commonsense, sciencebased approach to an issue we realize is
close to the hearts and minds of so many
consumers," said Ray Gaesser, president of
the American Soybean Association. "Americans want to know that their food is safe,
and the solutions proposed in this bill will
ensure that they have that information."
In setting out a federal labeling system, it
reaffirms the F.D.A. as the nation's authority for the use and labeling of bioengineered
food ingredients while providing consumers greater confidence by establishing a required F.D.A. safety review process for all
new bioengineered traits, according to the
National Corn Growers Association.
"The introduction of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act was an important
first step to restoring sanity to America's
food labeling laws," said Martin Barbre,
president of the N.G.C.A.
Groups in favor of allowing states to vote
on labeling initiatives related to products featuring bioengineered ingredients expressed

Baron Group adopted as new
name for former Udi's Foods
DENVER - One of Colorado's most successful family-owned food businesses
has a new name. Baron Group is now the
name for what formerly was known as
Udi's Foods. Additionally,
the food company has renamed its three sub-brands
to Izzio, Etai's, and Silvi's.
The name change was
prompted by the Baron family's decision
in 2012 to sell their granola and glutenfree businesses, as well as their company
name, Udi's Foods, to Boulder Brands.
As of July 2014, the Barons can no lon-

ger use the name Udi's Foods, so, earlier
this year, the Baron family asked people
for help determining the company's new
name. Thousands of entries were submitted of which the Barons
chose three finalists based
on relevance to the brand
and the family's heritage.
The support for all three
finalists prompted the Barons to alter their
plans to take one new company name.
Instead, they decided to adopt all three
fan favorites: Izzio, Etai's, and Silvi's. The
Baron Family also created an umbrella

Syngenta expands in wheat with acquisition
BASEL, SWITZERLAND - Syngenta
on April 7 said it has acquired Societa
Produttori Sementi, a seed company specializing in durum wheat breeding and
production. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Established in 1911 in the province of Bologna in north central Italy,
P.S.B. is responsible for durum wheat
varieties grown on more than 330,000
hectares (815,000 acres). According to
P.S.B., the company has partnered with
Barilla S.p.A. for "the development
and widespread use of many varieties
16 / April 15, 2014 Milling & Baking News

characterized by their higher quality
and productivity compared to traditional durum wheat varieties."
The company has, in addition to its
headquarters and a 430-hectare (1,062acre) farm, breeding programs in other
crops such as non-durum wheat classes
and alfalfa.
"Syngenta will preserve the centuryold P.S.B. brand and know-how, which
will continue to be synonymous with
top-quality Italian durum wheat production," Syngenta said. "This will enable
growers in Italy and in other countries

their displeasure for the proposed bill.
"This is an important first step to foster
the necessary dialogue regarding the food
supply and appropriate communication to
consumers," said Robb MacKie, president
and chief executive officer of the American
Bakers Association. "HR 4432 would reaffirm the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) as our Nation's leading authority
over food safety and labeling."
"More than 90% of Americans support
labeling of G.E. foods," said Scott Faber, senior vice-president of government affairs
for the Environmental Working Group.
"It's clear the public wants to know what's
in their food, but if Rep. Pompeo has his
way, no one will have that right."
Marni Karlin, director of legislative and
legal affairs for the Organic Trade Association, added, "Consumers, particularly the
8 out of 10 American families who buy organic products, want to know what is in
their food. Congressman Pompeo's bill ignores this consumer demand for information. Instead, it ties the hands of state governments, the U.S.D.A., and the Food and
Drug Administration concerning G.M.O.
labeling. It is fatally flawed." MBN
parent company name: Baron Group.
"Initially we were in search of one company name," said Etai Baron, chief executive officer of Baron Group. "When we
received positive feedback about not just
one, but three possible company names,
we were inspired to zig when we originally planned to zag. We've now created
sub-brands for each different business using all three names."
The artisan bakery is now Izzio Artisan
Bakery, inspired by head baker, Maurizio
Negrini. The cafes and catering business
jointly are called Etai's Cafes and Etai's
Catering after the company co-founder
and now c.e.o., Etai Baron, and the fullservice restaurants are now Silvi's Kitchen, after Udi Baron's mother. MBN
to meet increasing demand for pasta - a
global market valued at $16 billion."
John Atkin, chief operating officer
of Syngenta, said, "P.S.B. combines the
quality, tradition and innovation that
are the hallmarks of the 'Made in Italy' brand. Its unrivalled durum wheat
breeding expertise and its links to the
food industry will be complemented by
Syngenta's leading-edge cereals R.&D.
and global presence. Together we will
accelerate innovation in high-quality
durum wheat production, helping more
growers prosper in the competitive Italian market as well as supporting international expansion." MBN
bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - April 15, 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Milling & Baking News - April 15, 2014