Snack World - August 2013 - (Page 17)

Government Affairs SFA Hits Capitol Hill Snack executives target SNAP surveillance and other issues during Legislative Summit. BY BOB GATTY L egislation to create the first-ever governmentsanctioned list of every food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits nationwide drew heated opposition from the snack industry and other food industry organizations during the 2013 Farm Bill debate in the House of Representatives. The idea, advanced by Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA), was defeated, but SFA member company executives who came to Washington July 17-18 for meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill strongly opposed any effort to revive it or to impose any restrictions on the purchase of food products by those in the SNAP program. During the 2013 SFA Legislative Summit, snack industry executives met with members of Congress and their key legislative staff in some 80 separate meetings. They urged lawmakers to consider the importance of the snack industry to their districts, states and the nation as they make decisions on issues that could affect the financial success of their companies and the wellbeing of their employees and, ultimately, of food consumers. SNAP SURVEILLANCE Rep. Marino’s proposal to create a nine-state Government Accountability Office (GAO) pilot program that would have, for the first time, required federal tracking and publicizing of detailed lists of foods purchased with SNAP benefits. The issue was discussed www.sfa.org During the SFA Legislative Summit, Wise Foods’ executives Mike Scott (left) and Kevin Brick discuss key issues with Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) such as tracking SNAP purchases. August 2013 Snack World 17 http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - August 2013

Snack World - August 2013
Table of Contents
Letter from SFA - An Invasion and a Boot Camp
Supplier’s Corner - Get Involved
News - SFA updates TQM program to focus on innovation
FDA defines gluten-free
Farm Bill to wait until September
SFA CEO Profile - Dempsey Develops Bold Strategy
Government Affairs - SFA Hits Capitol Hill
SFA analyzes ‘Smart Snacks in School’ rule
Meeting Preview - Boot Camp!
New Snacks
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - August 2013