TopofPageMidwest Food Processors Association News Bulletin  - February 17, 2015   
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Mandatory GMO Labeling Bill Proposed Again
Capitol Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut along with Rep. Pete DeFazio, D-Ore., are reintroducing a mandatory GMO labeling bill that will face stiff opposition in a Congress controlled by Republicans.

MWFPA supports federal legislation such as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act introduced during the last session of Congress. That legislation would require the labeling of GMO ingredients if there is found to be a health, safety or nutrition issue present.  Continue reading.

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Country-of-Origin Labeling Lawsuit Dismissed

The lawsuit on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) filed by the multinational meatpacking industry and their allies to try and stop the USDA from implementing COOL has been dismissed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Continue reading. 

    
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.

Congress To Vote To Repeal NLRB Union Rule
The Republican-controlled Congress is planning a vote to repeal a National Labor Relations Board rule that revised procedures covering union representation elections.  Continue reading.

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FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg To Step Down

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg plans to step down as commissioner of the FDA at the end of March, after which Stephen Ostroff has agreed to serve as acting commissioner.  Read more.   

 

MN Bill Would Give Legislature Veto On Water quality Regulations
Minn Capitol
Minnesota lawmakers have introduced bills that would require legislative approval and an economic impact study of any new water-quality regulations imposed in the state if the regulations have a major cost to industry.  Read more.

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IL Senate Passes Minimum Wage Bill
IL Capitol
The IL Senate passed SB 11 raising the minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2019, by a vote of 35-18. IL's current minimum wage is $8.25 and Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed in his first state-of-the-state speech raising it to $10 over the next seven years.

Illinois is one of 29 states with a higher minimum wage than the federal level of $7.25 per hour.

MWFPA opposes raising the minimum wage

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IL Gov. Rauner Delivers Economic Growth Agenda
IL Governor Bruce Rauner delivered his first State of the State address in Springfield stressing economic growth with a top priority of making Illinois more competitive.

Among the many proposals was raising the state's minimum wage to $10 an hour over the next seven years. The Governor also asked for workers' compensation reform, lawsuit reforms and changes to unemployment insurance.  Continue reading.

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Walker Proposes Borrowing For WI Transportation Needs
Wisconsin Capitol WI Governor Scott Walker delivered his two-year budget address and the plan includes an income tax cut and borrowing for transportation and infrastructure needs.

The Governor's budget also consolidates several state agencies and re-locates several other state functions into other agencies.

The budget now heads to the legislature for its consideration and approval. The GOP-dominated legislature is expected to pass the budget in the first part of June after it holds about two months of hearings in both the State Capitol and in locations yet to be determined around the state. Continue reading. 

 

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WI Dems Introduce Economic Development Package
Democratic Donkey

WI Assembly Democrats recently announced their economic development package.  In addition to calling for an increase in the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, they are reintroducing legislation creating a nanotechnology hub.

 

MWFPA is opposed to raising the minimum wage. It continues to monitor the legislative and regulatory environment surrounding nanotechnology due to its increased role in the way food is produced, processed, packaged, transported and consumed. MWFPA will keep readers updated on the progress of this legislation. 

 

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Aligned Hazard Analysis Programs Food HACCP & PSM
The ultimate responsibility for food safety lies with food service providers and their ability to develop and maintain effective food safety management systems.

Currently, there is a shift in the emphasis of hazard analysis and preventive controls related to both process safety management (PSM) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). This is of particular concern for the food industry, where many regulations include both EHS and food safety requirements.

Read the short article Aligned Hazard Analysis Programs Food HACCP and PSM by Kestrel Management LLC.

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MWFPA Scholarships Applications Due March 2!
scholarship The March 2, 2015 application deadline for the MWFPA Scholarship is fast approaching!! 
 

The MWFPA Scholarship may award up to $2,000 (depending on availability of funds) in scholarship money to deserving children of parents or guardians who are employees of MWFPA member companies. They must also be a high school senior or post-secondary student accepted into, or attending any post-secondary school, in the United States.

 

The scholarships will be awarded in April, 2015.  Last year six students received $1,000 scholarships 

  

Information and applications can be downloaded from the MWFPA website, or by contacting Brian Elliott at: brian.elliott@mwfpa.org, or by calling 608-255-9946.
 
Save The Date For Upcoming MWFPA Sanitation Seminar - April 15, 2015!
Save the Date for the MWFPA Cleaning and Sanitation in Food Plants seminar scheduled for Tuesday April 15, 2015 at the Holiday Inn - Stevens Point, WI.

 

The proactive and preventive approach to controlling contamination through cleaning and sanitation is increasingly being recognized as a key factor in food safety management. This full-day seminar will look at the sanitation problems and solutions that are found in today's food plant.  

 

Look for a full brochure with registration information soon. 

 

If you have any questions call the MWFPA offices at 608-255-9946.

 

Northwest Food Processors Invite MWFPA Members to Webinar February 25, 2015 

 

An Open Event Invitation for Food Processors Associations:

 

NWFPA and NIST are sponsoring a series of web TV events on new innovative methods to remove solids from water, and then recover value from those solids.  Next event: February 25, 2015

 

MWFPA members are welcome.  No charge to attend.


Hear from industry experts and waste water filtration suppliers about a range of solutions available today in a fast-paced, industry-driven live web event.  We'll address questions like:
  • How do major filtration methods differ?
  • Which ones are best at removing suspended or dissolved solids for different types of water streams?
  • How do you go about scoping your needs?
  • What is the capital cost of deployment? How do I calculate ROI?
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SAVE THE DATE:  Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum October 19-22, 2015
MWFPA is pleased to cosponsor the Food Safety Preventive Controls Forum, along with the American Frozen Food Institute on October 19-22, 2015 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, WI. 

The Forum will provide relevant information for any food or ingredient company regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Food safety consultants, auditing firms and other service providers will also benefit from our line-up of expert speakers and interaction with fellow attendees and exhibitors.

Watch for more information coming soon in this News Bulletin. 
   

MWFPA Becomes PACK EXPO East Partner

MWFPA is partnering with the new PACK EXPO East tradeshow, February 16-18 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.  

As a Gold Member of the PACK EXPO East Partner Program, MWFPA joins associations who are leading forces in collaboration.

 

With PACK EXPO East, you'll experience the same high quality industry professionals you have come to expect from a PACK EXPO show-in a convenient, focused setting allowing for plenty of time to engage with individual top-tier suppliers and peers.

 

 Register Today! 

 

MWFPA Partners In Food Leaders Summit   

MWFPA has become a proud partner in The Food Leaders Summit 2015.

Join your industry peers in Chicago, IL April 27-29, 2015 to look closely at the transformative changes impacting every aspect of the food industry -- and work collaboratively to succeed in this new environment.

Find more information and register for this event!
 

Think Asia, Think Hong Kong Seeks Food Processors For One-On-One Business Meetings    

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is organizing an event in Chicago on June 10, 2015 called "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong."  

 

The Council is bringing 6 business delegations from Hon Kong and China (100+ companies) representing 6 different industries. In addition to attending TATHK, they will also do some company visits and participate in our One-on-One Business Matching meetings with local companies. They are looking to meet with food & wine producers, food processing companies, food packaging companies, etc. for both sourcing AND selling opportunities.

 

If your company would like to participate, please click here for more information. 

 
Did You Remember Your 2015 Membership Dues?
Reminder Did you remember to submit you membership dues for 2015?  Members are encouraged to send in their contribution as soon as possible.

 

And when paying your dues, you can also take the opportunity to  contribute to the MWFPA Scholarship fund!  All invoices contain a convenient check-off box. Scholarships may be applied for by any child of a member in good standing.  

 

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your membership, please contact Brian Deschane at 608-255-9946, or brian.deschane@mwfpa.org.  

 
MWFPA Events
February 18, 2015:  MWFPA Environmental Committee. 10 a.m. to Noon. Holiday Inn, Madison, WI.

February 24, 2015: MWFPA Board of Directors.  MWFPA offices, Madison, WI.

April 15, 2015:  MWFPA Sanitation Seminar. Holiday Inn, Stevens Point, WI. 

June 4, 2015 - Spring Summit & Scramble. Trappers Turn Golf Course, Wisconsin Dells, WI.

October 6, 2015 - Sporting Clays Challenge. Whispering Emerald Ridge Game Farm, N3954 640th St., Menomonie, WI.

December 1-3, 2015 - MWFPA 111th Annual Convention and 88th Processing Crops Conference.  KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI.
 
Other Educational Opportunities
March 16-19, 2015:  Better Process Control School. Pyle Center, University of Wisconsin, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI. Training for individuals who supervise critical food processing operations.  For a brochure and registration information, click here.

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By becoming a sponsor of the MWFPA News Bulletin, your banner will be viewed by a very targeted group of food processors, in addition to persons, firms and corporations that provide technology, logistics, ingredients and packaging to the food processing industry. 
 
Contact Brian.Elliott@mwfpa.org, or call (608) 255-9946, ext. 11.
Midwest Food Processors Assoc. | | brian.elliott@mwfpa.org | http://www.mwfpa.org
4600 American Pkwy.
Suite 210
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