Consumer Group Keeps Up the Fight for Artisan Producers

Washington, DC–September 1, 2011–The Weston A. Price Foundation, a consumer nutrition organization, has filed its third set of comments with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the agency’s implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The most recent comments addressed the preparation of traditional foods – specifically raw milk cheeses, bone broths, and lacto-fermented vegetables – in a safe manner.

“These foods play an important role in an optimal diet, and their production should be encouraged in the interests of Americans’ health and vitality,” said Sally Fallon Morell, founder and president of WAPF. “These foods have been safely prepared and consumed by people all over the world for centuries, and FDA needs to understand the traditions and science behind them. Treating these artisanal foods as if they were inherently dangerous would only undermine their quality, while not serving the goal of food safety.”

The nonprofit’s earlier comments to the agency addressed issues such as what facilities should be exempted as “very small businesses,” how to classify low-risk facilities, and factors that FDA should consider in prioritizing inspections and enforcement activities.

“Consumers are flocking to farmers’ market and local producers because they recognize a basic truth: not all food is created equal,” explained Fallon Morell. “When Congress passed the FSMA, it acknowledged this fact by including the Tester-Hagan amendment to exempt small-scale, direct-marketing producers from some of the most onerous of the new requirements. Now it’s up to FDA to respect this fact in its rulemaking and enforcement actions.”

The FDA recently opened a new comment period, this one on the issue of fees imposed for re-inspections, and specifically seeking comments on the impact on small-scale producers.

“We will stay involved at every step of the way, speaking up for local producers and the consumers who depend on them for high-quality food,” concluded Fallon Morell.

The comments are posted in our press room:

http://www.westonaprice.org/press/comments-on-preventative-controls-for-registered-human-food-and-animal-foodfeed-facilities

http://www.westonaprice.org/press/comments-on-the-preventative-controls-for-facilities-under-the-fda-fsma

The Weston A. Price Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nutrition education foundation with the mission of disseminating accurate, science-based information on diet and health. Named after nutrition pioneer Weston A. Price, DDS, author of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, the Washington, DC-based Foundation publishes a quarterly journal for its 13,000 members, supports 450 local chapters worldwide and hosts a yearly International conference. The Foundation headquarters phone number is (202) 363-4394, www.westonaprice.org, info@westonaprice.org.

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