Letters to the Editor

The Produce Industry’s ‘Barcode’ of Approval

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ISSUE

Really liked the article on PTI by Dan Vache (met him at the United Fresh and he is a passionate leader in the Produce Industry)…Traceability and Food Safety are paramount issues in the Meat and Produce Industry. This is a concern to producers, processors, retailers, and CONSUMERS. Not saying the other verticals in the Food Industry don’t have the same concerns, but we are talking about products that are often handled raw throughout the supply chain and have short shelf lives here. Great to have organizations like United Fresh and excellent publications that support the Food Industry opposed to large media outfits that undermine it.

—Allan Hills, hiring consultant, CPG Executive Search Inc.

Women’s Role in Reforming Food Safety

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ISSUE

Thought the article was very good and certainly opened my eyes up a bit as to what women had to put up with back in the day. (The University did not award BAs to women, so she received a “certificate of proficiency.” What?!)

—Sandra Sheridan, REHS, senior environmental specialist, Kalamazoo County Health Department

Getting a Handle on Foreign Materials

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ISSUE

I have spent 25 plus years identifying foreign materials allegedly found in foods. Over 30,000 exhibits—always finding new complaints. A good number of the complaints would end up in court, but many more were settled due to the high costs involved in defending them. There are many ways to identify the most likely source and, maybe more importantly, whether they were packed with the food or introduced after opening the packaging. A huge challenge to the industry as a whole.

—Robert Callaway, owner and chief scientist, Callaway Food Forensics