Pennsylvania Governor's Food Safety Council Meets to Discuss Food Supply Protection

Pennsylvania Governor's Food Safety Council Meets to Discuss Food Supply
Protection

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's chief
agriculture and human health officials discussed foodborne threats and
opportunities to improve national and state food safety initiatives at the
first meeting of the Governor's Food Safety Council today in Harrisburg.

Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff and Health Secretary Everette James
described to the council their agencies' roles in protecting the food supply
and responding to outbreaks, as well as the impact of food safety on
Pennsylvania's businesses and citizens.

"Too often we are reacting to food safety problems rather than preventing
them," said Secretary James. "This council will help develop proactive food
safety measures needed to protect the well-being of Pennsylvanians and
consumers of our state's many food products."

The council is made up of local, state and federal representatives from all
aspects of food production, distribution and retail, as well as the public
health and emergency response communities. The council will review existing
protocols, policies and legislation, share recommendations with Governor
Edward G. Rendell, and provide insight on new opportunities and potential
threats.

"Our food supply is complex, and from the point of production through the time
someone consumes it, the food we eat can travel thousands of miles and be
introduced to countless potential threats," said Wolff. "To help keep
Pennsylvania's farmers, consumers and businesses safe, we are proactively
working to ensure that threats to our food supply are minimized and that
systems are in place to rapidly identify and contain any problems that may
occur. Today's discussion was the first of many we hope to have that will keep
all Pennsylvanians safe by protecting one of our most basic needs - food."

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, appointed as acting commissioner of the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration by President Obama, provided the council with an overview
of federal food safety efforts. Secretary James said the partnership between
federal, state and local health officials will help make sure Pennsylvania is
at the forefront of protecting public health.

"The first Food Safety Council meeting brought together a diverse group of
leaders representing all parts of Pennsylvania's food sector to discuss the
issues surrounding food safety. It is critical to the residents of the
commonwealth that we work together to develop procedures and protocols to
address food threats and prevent foodborne illness," James said.

Creating the 22-member Food Safety Council was the main recommendation of the
state's new multi-agency food safety initiative, the Strategy for Agriculture
and Food Excellence, or SAFE.

The SAFE initiative aims to address threats to the food supply from
farm-to-fork. The initiative was developed by the Department of Agriculture in
coordination with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the
Department of Health, with input from food processors, retailers and health
officials.

The council, with its diverse expertise and first-hand knowledge of the issues
affecting food safety and food defense, will help guide future recommendations
of the SAFE initiative.
CONTACT: Stacy Kriedeman, Health
717-787-1783

Chris Ryder, Agriculture
717-787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Stacy Kriedeman of the PA Department of Health, +1-717-787-1783; or Chris
Ryder of the PA Department of Agriculture, +1-717-787-5085