Milling & Baking News - March 24, 2020 - 21

UPDATE

President Trump discusses outbreak
with food leaders via tele-meeting

WHITE HOUSE TWITTER

a normal pace of grocery expenditures.
"There are no shortages," Mr. Trump
said. "But you don't have to buy so much.
Take it easy. Just relax. People are going
WASHINGTON - American supply limited availability or were suspended in in and they're buying more."
Mr. Trump recounted one CEO's eschains continue to function, and there are some areas.
Some brick-and-mortar food outlets timation that consumers were "buying
no apparent food shortages and food outlets will remain open during efforts to flat- were taking measures to better serve more than they buy at Christmas."
Food companies planned to go "around
ten the curve of coronavirus infection, US more customers during the era of selfquarantines and limited gatherings. the clock if they have to, and they're comPresident Donald Trump said March 15.
Those assurances and a request - that San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B mitted to the communities where they're
Americans fight the urge to overbuy or and Rochester, NY-based Wegmans, for serving and which they serve so beautifully and have for a long
hoard supplies - were
time," Mr. Trump said. "But
drawn from the president's
again, they actually have
conference call with two
asked me to say, 'Could you
dozen top leaders in the food
buy a little bit less please?' I
and retail sectors. Among
thought I'd never hear that
those speaking Sunday with
from a retailer."
the president were the chief
Meanwhile, the Consumer
executive officers of General
Brands Association appealed
Mills, Tyson Foods, Target,
to the federal government to
Cargill, Costco and Walmart.
exempt manufacturing facili"All of them are working
ties from these gathering limhand-in-hand with the fedits being instituted in some
eral government as well as
municipalities in an effort to
the state and local leaders to
flatten the coronavirus curve
ensure food and essentials
(see related story on Page 10).
are constantly available," Mr.
Bryan Zumwalt, executive
Trump said. "We had a long
conversation with them, President Donald Trump, speaking March 16 at one of several White House vice president of public affairs at the CBA, said while
and they're going to work press conferences he conducted last week.
the group "appreciates the
24 hours around the clock,
critical nature of containing
keeping their store stocked."
As Americans were increasingly urged example, were limiting per-purchase the coronavirus as quickly as possible,"
by White House and other officials to re- quantities on such items as chicken, it sought facility exemptions "provided
main at home when possible, some con- ground beef, bottled water, eggs, pastas they follow worker safety guidelines put
sumers have sharply ramped up purchas- and sauces, rice, beans, cereal, bread, forward by the Centers for Disease Conmilk, frozen vegetables and prepared trol and Prevention and the Occupational
ing at offline and online retailers.
Safety and Health Administration.
Amazon was out of stock on some list- foods, as well as many canned goods.
According to Mr. Trump, the following
But food industry leaders in the March
ings, such as bottled water and toilet paper, and posted a notice atop its market- 15 call with the president offered assur- food industry leaders took part in Sunplace site that "inventory and delivery ances that there weren't any food short- day's tele-meeting:
x Don Clark, VP of procurement,
may be temporarily unavailable due to ages at present. Still, the president said,
Whole Foods
increased demand." Amazon products they urged consumers, some of whom "are
x Mark Clouse, CEO of Campbell Soup
and features such as Prime Now and Am- buying anywhere from three to five times
Company
azon Fresh grocery delivery services noted what they would normally buy" to resume
x Brian Cornell, CEO of Target
x Randy Edeker, chairman, president
and CEO of Hy-Vee
x Jeff Harmening, CEO of General Mills
x Kevin Hourican, president and CEO
of Sysco
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug food and drugs for the FDA. "This can
x Craig Jelinek, CEO of Costco
Administration is suspending "routine" include, among other things, evaluating
x Todd Jones, CEO of Publix Superfood facility inspections in an effort to en- records in lieu of conducting an onsite inmarkets
sure the safety of its workforce and not spection on an interim basis when travel
x Donnie King, president of Tyson
interfere with food manufacturer pro- is not permissible, when appropriate."
Foods
Dr. Hahn noted that during the past fisgrams to limit the number of visitors to
x David MacLennan, chairman and
their facilities in the wake of the coronavi- cal year the domestic violation rate among
CEO of Cargill
rus outbreak. Other inspections deemed FDA-regulated companies was 5%.
x Rodney McMullen, CEO, chairman of
"From our experience across the agen"mission critical" will continue.
Kroger
"During this interim period, we're cy, we also believe FDA-regulated firms
x Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart
evaluating additional ways to conduct understand and appreciate their shared
x Todd Vasos, CEO of Dollar General
our inspectional work that would not responsibility to ensure the integrity of
Corp.
jeopardize public safety and protecting the supply chain, and we will continue to
x Vivek Sankaran, president and CEO
both the firms and the FDA staff," said communicate with them during this time
of Albertson's. MBN
Stephen M. Hahn, MD, commissioner of to underscore this partnership," he said. MBN

Food and Drug Administration suspends
routine facility inspections

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Milling & Baking News

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Milling & Baking News - March 24, 2020

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