[avatar user=”chrislamond” size=”160″ align=”left”]Chris Lamond
Consultant for IPIA[/avatar]

[avatar user=”dannades” size=”160″ align=”left”]Dan Ades
Public Affairs Committee Chair[/avatar]

Accomplishments of the Government Affairs/Public Affairs Committee

As of this writing, we are putting a bow on 2016. The end of the year is always a reflective time and, with that in mind, I thought I wanted to take a step back and review a few of the accomplishments the IPIA has made as it relates to public/government affairs over the last few years. The list is long.

As you all who read my articles know, the goal of our work has always been to improve the regulatory structure in which all packaged ice is produced. Better, smarter federal and state regulations will mean a higher quality food product for the consumer and we will lower the risk that packaged ice becomes the next industry to suffer from a catastrophic contamination outbreak.

This has always been a long term effort. All regulations take years to take shape but we have made significant progress raising the level of awareness of food safety for packaged ice with the FDA, in Congress, within a number of states and Canada.

We have also taken steps to expand our focus on educating just government officials and have targeted the consumer through the internet and social media outreach, with great results.

Specifically, here is a list of accomplishments of the Committee:

• First and foremost, we have accomplished the goal of putting packaged ice on the map within the food safety community. There is no doubt that the FDA, a number of state food safety officials, retailers and consumers are now aware of the IPIA and our principle that “Ice Is Food.” This is important. Having credibility within the food safety community means they will listen more closely to our issues.
• We have created and submitted a Citizens Petition to the FDA asking for a standard of identity for packaged ice. While it has taken considerable time for the FDA to act on the petition, this holds significant opportunity for the industry. All of the work below has bolstered our efforts of achieving approval from the FDA for our petition.
• We have secured support from the Congress via letters and legislative language encouraging the FDA to act on our Citizens Petition.
• We have secured legislative language that requires the FDA to conduct a study on commercial ice machines.
  • We have had numerous meetings with congressional officials about packaged ice and Congress has twice added language to legislation directing the FDA related to packaged ice.
  • We also led “Fly-ins” to Washington where industry representatives met with Members of Congress.
• We created and continue to manage www.safeice.org and ramped up the social media outreach to the consumer.
  • Safeice.org received an average of 1000 visitors per month this summer and continues to drive consumer awareness for the IPIA ice.
• We led the management of two statewide studies that has led to substantial benefit for the IPIA, including:
  • The study proved that backroom ice and vending ice is not as safe as compared to IPIA-produced ice.
  • The creation of marketing materials for the membership to increase sales
  • Raising the level of awareness for our issues both in the states and within the FDA
  • Driving considerable consumer outreach via our social media efforts.
• We have led the outreach to specific states. We have met with over 35 different states to advocate for stronger regulatory standards for packaged ice.
  • The best result from these meetings have been invitations we have received to speak at a variety of state conferences of food safety officials. These meetings have been great opportunities to directly present our case to the entire state food safety community – from industry representatives to the actual federal and state inspectors in the field.
  • We have also been able to recently create opportunities in California for IPIA members to utilize existing law to drive business opportunities.
• Working with the Conference for Food Protection. Over the last two CFP conferences, the IPIA has led an effort with multiple submissions to the CFP related to packaged ice.
  • The CFP effort has considerable benefit. We are making sound, logical requests backed by scientific evidence and have an audience of food safety industry leaders that has led to increased awareness for our issues.

There is more to do but the effort and commitment of support is paying dividends. If we stay at it we will certainly add a lot more successes to the tally sheet.