WASHINGTON, DC — March 27, 2002 — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) announces a new strategic alliance with FoodTrack, Inc., providing members with 24/7 food safety surveillance information.

“Food safety and consumer security have always been the highest priority for our industry,” said Tim Hammonds, president and CEO of FMI. “We are pleased to make this important new service available to our members at a time when the need has never been greater.”

FoodTrack is an international food tracking service that follows food safety issues. FoodTrack’s Flash Product Alert™ bulletins track biosecurity issues, product recalls, foodborne illness outbreaks and food safety issues affecting food and beverage products. Bulletins are distributed immediately after any incident — enabling clients to respond to crisis situations that threaten the integrity of products and the safety of their customers.

FoodTrack’s advance warnings allow food companies to remove potentially unsafe products from distribution quickly; formulate pro-active corporate responses; and manage day-to-day food safety and quality issues. Services are now available to FMI members at a 25–50 percent discount depending upon the FoodTrack plan selected.

For more information, please visit the What’s New box on the Food Safety and Security page of FMI’s Web site www.fmi.org; or contact Laurie Williams at FMI at 202-220-0660.