Skip navigation

NEWSWATCH

FMI Urges Swifter Food Stamp Processtitute here said it met last week with a House Agriculture subcommittee to discuss ways in which the government can improve the food stamp and the Women, Infants and Children programs. Rich Savner, director of public affairs and government relations at Pathmark Stores, Carteret, N.J., urged the committee to consider changing policy to include the following: offering

FMI Urges Swifter Food Stamp Process

titute here said it met last week with a House Agriculture subcommittee to discuss ways in which the government can improve the food stamp and the Women, Infants and Children programs. Rich Savner, director of public affairs and government relations at Pathmark Stores, Carteret, N.J., urged the committee to consider changing policy to include the following: offering test cards for retailers to use to ensure their electronic-benefits transfer systems work, allowing retailers to use backup programs during EBT downtimes, completing the administrative process for food stamp collection for a store two weeks prior to its opening, and combining food stamp and WIC applications for a more streamlined process.

FMI Launches New Products Award

WASHINGTON -- Food Marketing Institute here said last week it will present its first-ever America's New Product Awards next May at its annual convention in Chicago. To qualify, FMI said products must be introduced between Jan. 1, 2001, and Feb. 1, 2002; demonstrate outstanding value and quality; offer definable consumer benefits; excel in taste and nutritional value; and be positioned well. Awards will be given in nine categories -- beverages, dairy, snacks, prepared foods, meat and seafood, grocery, bakery, fresh produce and condiments; in addition, FMI will name a Best of Show winner. Additional information is available from Rita Bureika at (202) 220-0821; at [email protected]; or at www.americasnewproductawards.com.

FMI Issues Animal Welfare Guidelines

WASHINGTON -- Food Marketing Institute here said it has established a series of policies and guidelines to support industry programs that strengthen animal welfare, food quality and food safety. The policies call for FMI to develop a series of "best practices" for the ways animals should be raised, transported and processed, using procedures that are clean, safe and free from cruelty, abuse or neglect and to strengthen quality, safety and animal well-being throughout the production process based on objective, measurable indices of desirable practices. In addition, FMI said it will develop a set of retailer expectations for growers, producers and processors and support the formation of an advisory counsel for ongoing dialogue on the issues.