Food Protection Trends - January 2010 - 45

WhAT’S hAPPENING IN FOOD SAFETY that all processors can use it. b. Studying alternatives to post-harvest processing, including off-shore relaying in which oysters are harvested and moved to salty waters where the high salinity kills Vibrio vulnificus. c. Providing technical assistance to firms in development of their post-harvest processing processes and HACCP plans. The FDA will work with other federal agencies, such as the USDA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce to review what types of grants and other forms of economic assistance may be available to support establishment of processing cooperatives or other mechanisms to ensure widespread access to post-harvest processing facilities. As USTR and the oyster industry work to foster wider access to international markets that are now closed because of concerns about Vibrio vulnificus, FDA’s new approach should provide public health and science data to support the safety of these products for human consumption in the US and abroad. facility in Anaheim, CA. American Ingredients is the first ingredient distributor to be GMP certified by NSF International following a site inspection. GMPs for the NSF Dietary Supplements Program are included in NSF American National Standard 173: Dietary Supplements, the only American National Standard for dietary supplements, and are consistent with the requirements that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has included in 21 CFR § 111. GMPs provide guidelines that cover every aspect of manufacturing, including facility design and maintenance, raw material specification and control, supplier qualification, product design and testing, employee training, process control and finished product release. These guidelines provide a system of processes, procedures and documentation to assure the product manufactured has the identity, strength, composition, quality and purity that appears on the product label. “The NSF GMP certification program is one of the more recognizable and comprehensive audit programs in our industry,” said George Joseph, vice president/ general manager. “We are very proud to have successfully completed their stringent audit and to have been awarded this certification. Our customers can be assured that American Ingredients is committed to meeting all of the new FDA GMP regulations that govern our industry and have confidence that all raw materials purchased from our facility have been qualified and verified.” achievement award for more than 40 years of stellar service to the food industry, including 27 years at the helm of N.G.A. FMI President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie G. Sarasin presented the award to Mr. Zaucha at the FMI board of directors’ meeting in Toronto, Canada in October. “Tom’s leadership has enriched the industry in countless ways. His support for the entrepreneurs who innovate and help set the standard for customer service is a significant accomplishment,” said Ms. Sarasin. “In my short time at FMI, it has been my pleasure to work closely with Tom to increase the cooperation between N.G.A. and FMI. The success of the Washington Public Policy Conference is the result of our organizations coming together and partnering on issues important to the industry,” she said. Mr. Zaucha has represented virtually every segment of the food industry, beginning at the National Canners Association where he oversaw government and industry relations. He also spent time as the director of public affairs at the National Association of Food Chains and held a similar position at A&P. In 1978 he moved to the wholesale side of the industry, where he became the president of the Cooperative Food Dealers Association (CFDA). He understood the interdependence of retailers and wholesalers and was instrumental when he became the founding president and chief executive officer of NGA in 1982 — a merger that joined CFDA with the National Association of Retail Grocers of the US. “Under Tom’s leadership, N.G.A. has become a champion and guardian of independent food retailers, helping preserve one of our industry’s most precious assets,” said Ms. Sarasin who also noted Mr. Zaucha’s plans to retire next year. “Tom is leaving a strong and lasting legacy.” 45 3. 4. First Ingredient Distributor to be NSF GMP Certified merican Ingredients, Inc., a subsidiary of Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc., and supplier of premium ingredients to the dietary supplement and food industries announced that it has received Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification for its FMI Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to National Grocers Association’s Tom Zaucha ood Marketing Institute (FMI) recognized Tom Zaucha, president and chief executive officer of the National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) with a lifetime JANUARY 2010 | FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS

Food Protection Trends - January 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - January 2010