Spinach Research and Recovery Act Introduced

Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., and 11 cosponsors have introduced the “Spinach Research and Recovery Act” (H.R. 6379) to address food safety and industry needs following the recent spinach E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak.

”We have been pleased to work closely with Congressman Farr to identify both important food safety research challenges and the need to help spinach growers and processors whose products were not implicated in the outbreak, but suffered serious losses in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s blanket consumer advisory,” said Robert Guenther, United Fresh senior vice president for public policy.

First, the bill calls for $26.5 million in research funding dedicated to fresh produce food safety priorities. The funding would be allocated to three agencies: USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) and FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

Second, the bill would set up a USDA-administered economic assistance program that would make payments to growers and first handlers of fresh spinach who were unable to market their product following the FDA Public Health Advisory issued Sept. 14. The economic assistance would allow growers and first handlers to recoup up to 75 percent of their lost spinach revenue during the time the FDA advisory was in place.

While the bill will not be passed before the end of the congressional session, Farr said it would serve as a template for his efforts to enact legislation when the 110th Congress convenes.

The United Fresh government relations team will continue to work with Farr’s office and other members of Congress to build widespread support for the bill.