Business Briefs


         Subscribe in NewsGator Online   Subscribe in Bloglines 

The Senate Subcommittee on Investigations recently held a hearing to continue a year-long investigation on excessive wheat speculation, reported the Independent Bakers Association.

The Senate panel concentrated on how the lack of convergence between wheat futures and cash prices causes artificially inflated prices that negatively impact farmers, grain processors, bakers and consumers.

Hayden Wands, director of procurement at Sara Lee Corp, spoke about skyrocketing wheat prices and how bakers and smaller businesses were affected. When asked by the panel of Senators who gets hit the hardest, Wands replied, “grain elevator operators and farmers take most of the risk, however bakers feel the price surges significantly as well.”


The House of Representatives recently passed legislation, giving the FDA more authority and resources to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks, according to The Wall Street Journal. Under the House bill, the FDA would be required to conduct more frequent inspections and would have greater oversight over record keeping and traceability. Most food companies also would reportedly be required to register with the agency and pay an annual fee of $500 for each of their facilities.


While ABA is supportive of improving food safety, ABA remains concerned with facility registration fees in the House bill that will ultimately act as a new tax on food. “The unfortunate impact of this bill will mean higher costs for food producers and consumers,” said Robb MacKie, ABA president and C.E.O. “The registration fees included in this bill greatly impact the baking industry. Only 10 percent of our facilities produce baked goods, while 90 percent of our facilities are low risk, short term, storage facilities.”

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2010 Penton Media Inc.


Acceptable Use Policy
blog comments powered by Disqus

Most Read Articles and Video in 2009

Bakery-Net Viewpoints:

Paula Frank:
The debut of the Influential 20
 
Read More Editor's Notes

Baking Management Buyer's Guide

Use this directory as a one-stop source for all of your wholesale bakery’s needs. Keep up with the latest equipment, ingredients and product lines to keep your business well-supplied.

The Bakery-Net e-Newsletter


Baking Industry News
Decorating Ideas
Bakery Equipment News
Healthful Baking News
Formulas & Techniques

Each of the five Bakery-Net e-Newsletters brings the best of Modern Baking and Baking Management magazines. View the archives

Related Sites

Supermarket News

WH Refresh Blog

Healthy Baking Seminar

Total Access Blog

Upcoming Events


Healthy Baking Seminar
March 11
Modern Baking and Baking Management

More Baking Events..

Product Information


Visit our online resource to find products and services offered by advertisers featured in Modern Baking magazine.

Past Issues

Looking for a particular issue of Baking Management? Use the dropdown menu below to assist you in your search.