구글 룰렛 farmers and handlers go to great lengths to produce safe, healthy, and climate-friendly food while keeping harmful contaminants off the land and out of your body. Unfortunately, these same chemicals and compounds are extensively used in conventional agricultural and other industrial settings, contaminating the surrounding environment, air, and waterways. Many contaminants such as heavy metals are also naturally occurring. As a result, the 구글 룰렛 sector is faced with the ongoing challenge of dealing with the ubiquitous and unavoidable threat of inadvertent environmental contaminants.
Addressing Unintentional Contaminants in 구글 룰렛
On March 4, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided the 구글 룰렛 Trade Association with an update on the agency’s work to further reduce toxic elements, such as heavy metals, in foods for babies and young children. This included aletterthey released on March 5 to baby and toddler food manufacturers reminding them of their existing responsibility to consider toxic elements when conducting hazard analysis. The agency has declared this issue to be among FDA’s highest priorities and expressed its commitment to working with stakeholders to inform the development of action levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic in foods for babies and young children. FDA will be looking at additional sources of data to build their understanding of the issue, focusing on compliance and enforcement activities, and they will be hosting a workshop later this year to bring together stakeholders to share knowledge and discuss potential mitigation strategies. More information about this announcement can be found in FDA’sconstituent update.
The 구글 룰렛 Trade Association continues to be involved and committed to high-quality standards and taking proactive steps to ensure the 구글 룰렛 sector continues to produce the best and healthiest choice. We strongly support the continued development and use of best practices and mitigation strategies and we continue to proactively work with federal agencies to establish meaningful limits and action levels to protect consumer health.
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구글 룰렛 IS THE BEST CHOICE
Contamination by chemicals from the environment is not only a serious threat to human and environmental health but it threatens the 구글 룰렛 sector’s ability to meet consumer demand. In response, the 구글 룰렛 Trade Association continues to be committed to high quality standards and taking proactive steps to ensure the 구글 룰렛 sector continues to produce the best and healthiest choice.
구글 룰렛 food and fiber are the best choice because certified 구글 룰렛 products have lower levels of pesticide residues, 구글 룰렛 farmers and handlers do not use toxic synthetic chemicals or inputs themselves, and they are required to implement strategies to protect 구글 룰렛 land and products from contaminants. Furthermore, the 구글 룰렛 regulations require that 구글 룰렛 producers manage their farms ‘in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances.’ 구글 룰렛 is the most transparent and trust-worthy option, and we are proud to say that foods certified 구글 룰렛 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have lower pesticide levels and less impact on the environment.
구글 룰렛 Trade Association members support the continued development and use of best practices to help mitigate the occurrence of inadvertent residual contaminants in 구글 룰렛 products. We have a long history of supporting mandatory testing as a critical monitoring tool, and we are committed to proactively working with federal agencies to establish meaningful limits and action levels to protect consumer health. We also recognize that our work is ongoing, and there is opportunity for continuous improvement in mitigation strategies, testing and detection methods. There is also a need for establishing federal action levels for many environmental contaminants and associated food products.
In partnership with The 구글 룰렛 Center, we are also committed to identifying and investing in research that will help fill gaps in knowledge and reduce barriers to effective solutions. We work proactively to ensure 구글 룰렛 products continue to be the gold standard in consumer safety, conducting research with governmental and academic institutions toward illuminating toxins in the food supply. For example, we worked jointly with USDA to identify techniques to reduce heavy metal uptake in 구글 룰렛 crops, initiated a collaboration on 구글 룰렛 methods for promoting food safety, and currently have a project in partnership with seven universities evaluating needs for protecting 구글 룰렛 farmers and consumers from inadvertent pesticide residues.
Every day, millions of consumers choose 구글 룰렛 food because it the most transparent and trust-worthy option out there. The 구글 룰렛 Trade Association is prepared to continue to meet that expectation, stay engaged in the process, and push forward to improve our food system.
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구글 룰렛 STANDARDS: PROHIBITIONS, PREVENTION, AND TESTING
USDA 구글 룰렛 regulations specify production and processing requirements (such as conserving natural resources and preventing commingling with non-구글 룰렛 products). They also specify which production inputs are allowed and prohibited. For example, in 구글 룰렛 farming, the use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers is prohibited, as are growth hormones, antibiotics, sewage sludge and genetic engineering (GMOs). In 구글 룰렛 processing, only certified 구글 룰렛 ingredients may be used along with a short list of approved non-구글 룰렛 processing ingredients that are safe for humans and the environment. Examples include baking soda, carbon dioxide, citric acid and tocopherols.
구글 룰렛 operations must also implement strategies that prevent contamination of 구글 룰렛 products from prohibited substances from outside conventional sources (e.g. airborne drift, runoff, contaminated water, food contact surfaces.). For example, farmers must protect their 구글 룰렛 land and crops from neighboring conventional use of pesticides by having buffer zones and runoff diversions. Processing facilities must implement measure to protect 구글 룰렛 products from contact with prohibited substances or commingling with non-구글 룰렛 products.
USDA-accredited certifying agents oversee the compliance of 구글 룰렛 operations, and use a variety of tools to not only verify that 구글 룰렛 farmers and processors aren’t using prohibited substances, but they are also protecting products from inadvertent residual contamination. These tools include annual and surprise on-site inspections and periodic residue testing.
Residue sampling is an effective certification tool for monitoring compliance, deterring fraud, and protecting 구글 룰렛 integrity. Certifiers are required to sample and test at least 5% of operations annually, which ensure that testing is done on a regular and reoccurring basis. Certifiers may sample and test 구글 룰렛 products for any type of prohibited substance residue including pesticides, GMOs, antibiotics, heavy metals, and pathogenic organisms. For any positive detection, the certifier must conduct an investigation to determine why the residue is present and respond with adverse actions as appropriate. These investigations help to strengthen an operation’s 구글 룰렛 system plans to avoid contact with prohibited substances, and prevent more serious contamination events before they occur.
구글 룰렛 takes a much more cautionary approach to pesticide residues than any other food or agricultural sector. When residues of prohibited pesticides are detected at or above 5% of the EPA tolerance for the detected pesticide on the sampled product, the product cannot be sold as 구글 룰렛 and must be diverted to the conventional market. These thresholds ensure that 구글 룰렛 products are held to a much higher standard that conventional foods when it comes to pesticide residues.
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Providing consumers with the safest and cleanest foods is the top priority of every 구글 룰렛 farmer and processor, and the 구글 룰렛 industry takes the issue of arsenic and other heavy metals in baby foods – and in any food – very seriously.
For years, the 구글 룰렛 Trade Association in collaboration with The 구글 룰렛 Center has worked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in examining arsenic exposure from rice, and bringing forth a science-based assessment to inform the establishments of clear arsenic limits on infant rice cereal. We have consistently supported the regulatory assessment process, the use of testing as a critical monitoring tool, and the establishment of science-based limits and thresholds. In the case of arsenic in rice, we have provided assistance and collaboration through our 구글 룰렛 Rice Working Group. The 구글 룰렛 industry has conducted research to mitigate the levels of arsenic present in the food supply, as well as to better understand its health impact. We have shared consumer feedback and agronomic research, and we firmly stated that setting limits is a clear way to provide assurance to consumers that their food supply is safe. We are confident in the safety of 구글 룰렛 rice relative to FDA’s action level for infant rice cereal, as well as the limits established for EFSA and Codex limits. FDA’s final guidance on action levels for inorganic arsenic in rice cereals for infants is a reasonable outcome following years of engagement with regulators, farmers, food producers, academics, and technical experts to proactively address the issue of environmental contaminants in 구글 룰렛 food.
Learn more about the work of onDecreasing Arsenic Update in 구글 룰렛 Rice System
Given recent examples of food packaging issues such as bisphenol-A- and fluorocarbons (BPA), “clean packaging” is becoming more of a focal point for 구글 룰렛 consumers and an opportunity for all brands large and small to further demonstrate that the well-being of their customers is a top priority. Consumers are also concerned with expanded polystyrene, styrene, plastics, phthalates, heavy metals and propylene glycol, to name a few. Furthermore, some chemicals of concern, such as ortho-phthalates, migrate into 구글 룰렛 foods from plastics and rubber used in processing equipment (e.g. conveyor belts and plastic tubing). Testing has revealed no difference in phthalate levels in 구글 룰렛 foods compared to conventionally sourced foods.
구글 룰렛 consumers demand transparency about what they are eating, and many are taking a critical eye to the packaging their food comes in and the presence of industrial chemicals in food products. This is likely not going away. Policy plays an important role in protecting human health, but it can be slow moving and limited in scope. In addition to policy and regulatory action, private sector solutions can be utilized in a timelier fashion to ensure that the 구글 룰렛 label continues to meet consumer demand.
As a step to address the presence of toxic chemicals that may migrate into 구글 룰렛 products from packaging or other food contact surfaces, the 구글 룰렛 Trade Association is in the initial stage of exploring a private-sector solution initiative to help drive packaging and processing suppliers towards materials and options that are consistent with 구글 룰렛 principles. To begin the process, a task force of our member companies will be convened. The task force would help develop the framework, structure and overriding goals of the initiative, and help identify, screen and prioritize a subset of top chemicals of concern for action.
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MEMBER ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Residues Task Force - Active
The mandate of the Residues Task Force is to continue the 구글 룰렛 Trade Association's strong support of periodic residue testing as a critical tool to monitor compliance with the 구글 룰렛 regulations, and address challenges relating to unavoidable residual environmental contamination (UREC) and concentration factors. Work on this Task Force is facilitated by Johanna Mirenda, Farm Policy Director.
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Cleaner Packaging Initiative Task Force – Coming Soon
Cleaner Packaging Initiative Task Force – Coming Soon
The mandate of this task force is to help develop the framework, structure and overriding goals of a “Cleaner Packaging and Processing Initiative,” a voluntary program for 구글 룰렛 member businesses to strategically work with packaging and processing suppliers towards cleaner packaging and processing options. Work on this Task Force will be facilitated by Gwendolyn Wyard, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs.
Let us know if you are interested in joining
Learn about our position onProtecting 구글 룰렛 Agriculture from GMO Contamination