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Issue Number: Council II 038
Title
Issue you would like the Conference to consider
The Conference for Food Protection plays an integral role in the development of the FDA Food Code. The cooperation and input of various stakeholders - including consumer, industry, and regulatory representatives - is crucial to the development of the Food Code, an important public health guidance document. Currently, consumer participation in the Conference is anemic, in part because of the financial cost of attending the Biennial Meeting. Consumer advocates represent customers at Food Code-regulated establishments and victims of foodborne illness, all of whom have an important stake in the decisions that are made at the Biennial Meeting. It is well-recognized that the input of these stakeholders is crucial to the development of sound public health policy, yet the current makeup of the Biennial Meeting does not reflect that contribution. Financial barriers to consumer participation must be recognized and mitigated. Without adequate consumer participation, both the credibility and the substance of the Food Code suffer.
Public Health Significance
Consumer organizations can provide critical insight into consumer attitudes, beliefs, and interests, and are active participants in public policy and regulatory matters before federal, state, and local governments, and have made a significant impact in improving food safety.
Recommended Solution: The Conference recommends...
That the Executive Board of the Conference for Food Protection, consider, approve, and manage a program to provide double-blind participant scholarships (created from industry and regulatory sources) to provide funding for consumer participants at CFP. A subcommittee of the Executive Board should be created to administer scholarships, with an organizing document that places paramount importance on increasing consumer representation to CFP. A minimum number of scholarships should be created for the next Biennial Meeting, with a goal toward increasing consumer participation each cycle. Scholarships should be adequate to cover the cost of transportation to and from the meeting, conference registration fees, lodging, and meals. Consumer representatives should be required to submit relevant 501-C3 status documentation, a statement of the primary sources of organizational funding, and a mission statement to be eligible for a scholarship.