NEWS BITES
Food Manufacturers,
Retailers and
Marketers Partner
with USDA to
Promote MyPyramid
The Grocery Manufacturers Association
(GMA), Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and
MatchPoint Marketing in a joint venture accepted
the challenge of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) by announcing their commitment to be official USDA MyPyramid corporate
partners.
As the key component of this effort GMA, FMI
and MatchPoint Marketing will reinforce promotion of their one-of-a-kind Take a Peak into
MyPyramid program, an innovative initiative to
support the USDA Dietary Guidelines and
MyPyramid. Take a Peak into MyPyramid
promotes the government’s nutrition education program in grocery store aisles, where consumers
ultimately make their food choices.
“Through the collaboration of GMA, the Food
Marketing Institute, and MatchPoint Marketing,
‘Take a Peak’ will give consumers a very useful
‘insider’ look to MyPyramid,” said Dr. Brian
Wansink, Executive Director for USDA’s Center
for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
“We are thrilled to take on the challenge and
join USDA’s MyPyramid program as a corporate
partner,” said Cal Dooley, president and CEO of
GMA. “GMA and its member companies are
committed to providing consumers with product
solutions that help Americans build their individual MyPyramids. Take a Peak into MyPyramid,
which combines the government’s nutrition
expertise and our industry’s marketing prowess,
is an important collaboration that benefits individual consumers, as well as our nation’s
public health.”
Millions of consumers across America have
already been exposed to the Take a Peak into
MyPyramid campaign. To date, Take a Peak into
MyPyramid has helped consumers make small
changes to their shopping habits—helping them
incorporate more foods that meet the U.S.
Dietary Guidelines into their diets—in more than
5,000 stores in all 50 states. Some retailers that
have participated include Wal-Mart, Publix Super
Markets, and SUPERVALU, just to name a few.
One large regional chain will soon implement a
bilingual (Spanish) version of the initiative.
3M Microbiology Wins Prestigious
IAFP Black Pearl Award
The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) recently selected 3M Microbiology as the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl
Award. The Black Pearl Award is given annually to one company for its outstanding achievement of corporate excellence in advancing food safety and
quality.
When evaluating candidates for the Black Pea rl
Award, IAFP seeks companies that exemplify excellence in advancing food safety and quality
through numerous channels, including customer
programs, employee relations, educational activities, adherence to standards and support of the
goals and objectives of IAFP.
According to David Tharp, executive director
of IAFP, 3M Microbiology has long been an active
and dedicated member of IAFP. “3M
Microbiology’s integrated approach to providing
food safety solutions to the food industry is second to none. They have a
history of partnering with customers and industry organizations to address
issues or problems. Through active involvement in IAFP scientific journals
and industry events, 3M Microbiology regularly provides ideas and solutions
to the food industry.”
3M Microbiology is a manufacturer of testing solutions that cover the
spectrum of quality, pathogen and toxin testing and monitoring in the food
safety market. They operate in more than 60 countries, working to serve the
needs of the food and beverage industry through innovative products and
technologies. 3M Microbiology has been an IAFP Sustaining Member for 22
years and its employees are actively involved in IAFP committees, events and
volunteer work.
Texas Governor Perry and Food
Industry Leaders Urge EPA to
Suspend Ethanol Mandate
Leaders from several food industry associations shared a stage with
Texas Governor Rick Perry to call on the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to approve his Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) waiver request.
Governor Perry addressed an audience of food producers, environmentalists and consumer advocates at the National Press Club who joined
together to express their support for revisions to current policies that promote the conversion of food into fuel.
Gov. Perry used the occasion to reiterate his appeal to the EPA to
reduce this year’s RFS in light of skyrocketing corn prices which have
proved damaging to Texas’s enormous livestock and poultry industry.
With corn prices increasing to their highest levels yet, recently hitting $8
per bushel, the increase in livestock and poultry feed is putting an immense
amount of financial pressure on both producers and consumers.
Governor Perry submitted a request to the EPA to reduce the RFS mandate by half—from 9 billion to 4. 5 billion gallons blended into the national
fuel supply—on April 25th. (continues on page 10)
