Senate passes bill on food safety so get ready to do a food recall quickly!

After recent scares with tainted eggs, peanut butter and spinach, consumers are now demanding better protection. Stronger government oversight is exactly what this bill is pushing for, and 73 members out of 98 in the Senate agree. On November 30, The United States Senate passed a food safety bill to give greater authority to the Food and Drug Administration.

Although the bill still has to clear through the House, both versions of the proposed bill allow the F.D.A to recall tainted foods, increase inspections, demand accountability from food companies and oversee farming. One controversial aspect of this new bill deals with smaller farmers and food producers. Some opponents have raised concern, arguing that this bill will be an overwhelming burden to smaller businesses. Senator Jon Tester of Montana has pushed for an addition that exempts producers with less than $500,000 in annual sales.

From my perspective, whether a food company is $500, 000 in annual sales or $500, 000,000 in annual sales, I want to know what’s being recalled. Here at JustFoodERP, we work with food companies all day every day, and I have personally witnessed a food recall being done at a plant with $30,000,000 in sales revenue take about 60 seconds. This is an issue of harnessing technology. I’m hoping this bill helps make this a priority for food companies.

If you want to find out the nitty gritty details of this bill, than check out th article “Senate Passes Sweeping Law on Food Safety” from the New York Times. 

Also, if you’re stumped on how to handle the upcoming bills demands on your food company, contact me and I’ll help get you answers from one of our business analysts.
 
 

Michelene loves technology but often manages to break it! As the Director of Marketing, she leads a great team of specialists and business development reps that help find the right type of food companies to partner with. She has over 10 years of experience working with software companies with very specialized offerings. When she’s not thinking about marketing, she is chasing around her toddler and working on her MBA.

Michelene Maguire

As the VP, Marketing, IndustryBuilt Software, Michelene leads a great team of marketing specialists and business development representatives who help find the right type of companies to partner with. She has more than 15 years of experience working with software companies with very specialized offerings. When she’s not thinking about marketing, she is chasing after her preschooler and working on her MBA. She can be reached at michelene.maguire@industrybuilt.com.