ARLINGTON, VA — November 30, 2010 — Food Marketing Institute President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin today issued the following statement commending the U.S. Senate for passing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) by a 73–25 vote.

“Today’s passage of S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, represents more than two years of thoughtful, bipartisan efforts that included industry, consumer groups and all other stakeholders working toward a shared goal of improving our nation’s food safety system.”

“With today’s Senate vote, we have taken another important step toward modernizing America’s food safety network and focusing on preventing problems before they occur, rather than just reacting to them. FMI commends Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Committee Ranking Member Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) for their steadfast work on this bill.

“Now it is imperative that the House and Senate immediately reconcile the differences between their two proposals and find a path for a food safety bill to be enacted into law by the end of the year.”