Snack World - August 2015 - (Page 12)

Legislative Summit LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT SFA Takes to the Hill 2015 Legislative Summit tackles important issues for the snack food industry. BY TRACI DAWN CARNEAL N early 50 snack industry representatives convened in the nation's capital in June to meet with lawmakers and communicate their position on the key issues coming up in the US House of Representatives and Senate. SFA members urged Congress to support reasonable legislation for two labeling issues - GMO and country of origin - and stressed how the revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans should be science-based and within scope. "The SFA Legislative Summit continues to grow each year as our members realize the value of meeting with their lawmakers face-to-face," said SFA President and CEO Tom Dempsey. "We had 48 SFA members join us in Washington, DC this year, a 25% increase over the 2014 Summit." Other participants included SFA staff and consultants who accompanied members on their visits with congressional leaders. "I was particularly gratified to find out that my congressman had co-sponsored the Safe Accurate Food Labeling Act," said Jeff Higgins of Savor Seasonings and SFA member. "These meetings do have an impact, and they are important to our association and our industry." 12 Snack World August 2015 www.sfa.org The day meetings kicked off June 3 with a breakfast session at The Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. Special guest speakers included Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), the lead sponsor of H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, and Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), House Agriculture Committee Chairman. "You need to go into your representative's office and turn up the heat on H.R. 1599. Those against GMOs may be a small group, but they are loud," Rep. Pompeo told Summit attendees. He is the lead sponsor of a bill that would provide a uniform standard for GMO labeling, superseding state requirements by establishing a voluntary non-GMO certification program at US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Rep. Conaway called the GMO labeling issue a perfect storm. "You need to look your representatives in the eye and tell your story," he advised. "Let them know how complying with different GMO label guidelines from state to state will affect you. We just can't have a system that functions with 50-plus different labels." "Talk with passion about your issues," Rep. Pompeo advised. "Your business is what really matters to them." (From left) Dan Morgan, Snyder'sLance and SFA Chairman; Brent Baglien, ConAgra Foods; US Senator John Hoeven (R-ND); and Tom Dempsey, SFA, meet to discuss a federal GMOlabeling solution. http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - August 2015

Snack World - August 2015
Table of Contents
Letter from SFA - GMO Free
Top-Level Education
News - Younger consumers fuel the healthy snacking trend
Gluten-free remains a viable, growing segment
Clean label attracts older consumers
Supplier Insight - The SFA ROI: Supplier’s Perspective
Legislative Summit - SFA Takes to the Hill
Business Profile Member - A Fortune 500 Mindset
Associate Profile Member - Customer-Centric in Every Sense
Snack Trends - Sorting Out the Snacks Segment
Non-GMO on the rise?
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - August 2015