The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, chaired by Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-OH),  held a hearing Wednesday clearly designed to slow the potential implementation of a national leafy greens marketing agreement, similar to the California Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA) now in place.

"Regardless of one's views on a marketing agreement, Chairman Kucinich did a huge disservice to public health in this hearing by attacking the safety of fresh-cut leafy greens such as bagged salads," said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel.  Both congressmen spent the majority of their time attacking the LGMA as inadequate to address risks associated with fresh processing, rather than farm practices.

"The inaccurate and false claims about the safety of processed product were an obvious ploy to shift the focus from farm-level food safety responsibilities, when everyone in the chain must be equally committed to doing their part," Stenzel said.  "Fresh-cut processors adhere to extraordinary safety standards established through formal regulations, and contribute significantly to public health with these frees and convenient items."

"We are now reaching out to Chairman Kucinich and members of his committee to educate them on exactly how the fresh-cut leafy green industry operates, and will invite him to tour facilities in his own state of Ohio for a better appreciation of the strong safety practices of our industry," said Stenzel.

Scott Horsfall, CEO of the LGMA, was the only produce industry representative invited to testify at the hearing. "We want to thank Scott for a great job in this hearing working to educating the panel on the important food safety work being done by the leafy green industry," Stenzel concluded.