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The GAO, or Government Accountability Office for the acronym challenged, has been asked by Sens. Ted Kennedy and Barbara Boxer to do a study on weaknesses in the current food safety system, Robert Guenther of United told me today. Meanwhile, thoughts of how Congress is looking at reform food safety responsibilities are forming along two lines. One, Guenther said, is a massive overhaul of the current system and creation of a new single food agency. The second is more targeted and will consider a "produce-only" food safety approach.

I think the question of whether either of those approaches is viable remains wide open, but Congress apparently will be holding oversight hearings on food safety early and often in the coming months.

Buyers letter Part II

Talking with Tim York of Markon on Jan. 3, he noted the Dec. 14 "Buyers letter" to PMA, United and Western Growers hasn't prompted a formal reply from those groups, but he said it doesn't necessarily need one.

York said one important point in the letter was the acknowledgement that progress has been made by growers seeking to strengthen food safety standards. A second point York stressed was that the industry needs a verifiable certification process for food safety standards, which he said is critical to prevent duplication of efforts.

The third point, and one that also bears more examination, is the desire for the industry to speak as one on produce safety. Particularly, the letter mentions the concept of a new organization based on the now-mothballed Center for Produce Quality. The Center for Produce Quality was a joint industry effort that was instrumental in helping to rebuild or at least document consumer confidence in fresh produce after the Alar scare of 1989. It lacked sufficient funding to continue beyond the early 1990s. The buyers' letter also mentioned the model of the Beef Industry Food Safety Council.

York suggested such a group could speak with one voice on produce safety issues, and potentially could serve as a certification organization for food safety standards through the supply chain.

I haven't had a chance to visit with United, PMA and WG officials about this concept yet. Funding and organizational turf are bound to be issues, but there is little doubt serious times may call for serious solutions.

Snack report

The USDA has issued an interim fiscal year 2006 report on the fruit and vegetable snack program that Lorelei DiSogra of United forwarded to me. Find it here. Included are notes about the most popular fruits and vegetables in the program. I can ease the suspense by telling you they are the same as before.

Having visited a school in Iowa that has the program, I would second what the report says about its popularity. Students in Jewell, Iowa, were elbowing each other for a chance at snow peas and clementines.

Here is a glowing excerpt from the agency's grade card on the snack program.

"The FFVP continues to remain popular among students, parents, school and foodservice staff. Many schools continued in the program from the previous year. Anecdotal information from these schools indicates a noticeable shift in students’ preferences from processed, high calorie and high fat snack foods to fruits and vegetables. Students are also making healthier choices in their lunches brought from home. Additionally, parents report they see a carryover at home of this healthier trend as children request fresh fruits and vegetables for their home meals.
States that solicit applications each year for participation in the FFVP continue to be overwhelmed by applications and interest in the program. In accordance with provisions in the law, priority in the newly participating States was given to schools with 50 percent or more of their children eligible for free and reduced price meals and those schools that had partnered with one or more non-Federal entity for program support. States continue to express a preference to have more than 25 schools per State participate. "