Food Safety

Food safety is the highest priority for frozen food producers.   AFFI dedicates significant resources to address a wide range of critical food safety issues utilizing a variety of tools, ranging from cooperation and communication with federal law and policymakers to industry education sessions and partnerships.         

FSMA Implementation and Funding

A key part of AFFI’s current food safety focus is monitoring implementation of FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in January 2011.  FSMA represents the first major overhaul of the nation’s food safety system in over 50 years.  

AFFI recognizes that in order to implement FSMA as directed by law, the FDA needs the resources to issue regulations, guidance documents and train its food safety personnel. 

AFFI continues to urge Congress to make available adequate funding for FDA’s food safety activities through the Congressional budget and appropriations process, rather than accepting any proposed new food taxes or regulatory fees on food makers.  AFFI leads a coalition of over 60 food groups that have opposed new facility or import fees for the purposes of funding the agency’s food safety activities since FSMA was passed into law in 2011.  Congress has considered and rejected such fees each time they have been proposed. 

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm)

AFFI has outlined a comprehensive strategy to combat the prevalence of Lm in frozen food and beverage facilities and is working with state and federal agencies to outline science-based regulatory policies for the food industry. 

AFFI’s efforts are focused on advancing Listeria research and providing best practices information towards prevention and control to frozen food and beverage makers.  AFFI is conducting educational support, training and workshops to better equip the industry in dealing with Lm.

AFFI also leads the Alliance for Listeriosis Prevention (ALP), a coalition of trade associations and companies organized to integrate industry wide prevention and control of Listeriosis.  Members of ALP also collaborate to revise current U.S. government policy concerning the presence of Lm in foods.