Field hearing on food safety

Monday could be a big day for regulatory news about produce safety. United's Tom Stenzel will testify at a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee field hearing in Verona, Wisc.

Along with Stenzel, FDA officials and other stakeholders will give their input(see witness list below). Expect to hear details from the FDA about what "strong federal oversight" may look like - and perhaps even an indication from FDA what new funding and authority will be required from Congress.

Here is the info about the hearing:

The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration,
and Related Agencies will meet in open session at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 12,
2007, at the West Madison Agricultural Research Center, Verona, WI.
The program includes: Hearing to discuss food safety.
Witnesses:
Panel 1:
Dr. Pat Verduin, Sr. Vice President, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, GMA/FPA
Mr. Thomas Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association
Ms. Caroline Smith DeWaal, Director, Program on Food Safety, Center for Science in
the Public Interest
Dr. Michael Pariza, Director, Food Research Institute, Madison, WI
Panel 2:
The Honorable Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
Dr. Robert Brackett, Director, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition