Food Science 321
Food Laws and Regulations
Assignment: The Voice of IFT
Spring 2011
Value: 100 Points
PURPOSE
The purpose of this exercise is to provide the student with an opportunity to demonstrate his/her ability to:
1. Participate in the process of the development and refinement of laws and regulations from the perspective of a professional organization
2. Recognize and interpret the impact that positions taken by interest groups can have on the development and refinement of laws and regulations
3. Demonstrate ability to apply principles of critical thinking and technical writing in formal business communication.
ASSIGNMENT
You are a member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and serve on a committee whose charge it is to influence proposed regulation on behave of the organization. The membership has given your committee a directive to formulate a position statement on this particular petition with the intention that it will be posted on the docket. An IFT governance committee (Theis) will review the statement before it is posted to ensure that it is comprehensive and consistent with the mission and values of the organization. You are asked to submit your position statement to the governance committee no later than Friday, February 18, 2011.
PROCESS GUIDELINES
1. Write a position statement on one of the following
- FDA’s recommendation for industry to reduce sodium
- USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (Doc. No. AMS-NOP-10-0045; NOP-10-03): Notice of Draft Guidance Concerning “Made with Organic (Specified ingredients or Food Groups)” Products: Product Composition and Use of Percentage Statement
- DHHS, FDA (Docket No. FDA-2010-D-0575): Draft Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 510.800 Beverages—Serving Size Labeling.
- Self identified topic (must request prior approval from instructor)
2. Review the comments already posted on the docket and the web sites of interest groups to gain the perspectives of your allies and adversaries.
3. Search the web site and journal of the IFT to find its mission/value statement.
4. Write a position statement addressing the important aspects your position in the context of the mission and values of IFT and the objectives of this course. Positions should be justified using sound and supported reasoning. Issues brought forth by groups/individuals with opposing views should be addressed.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
You are asked to submit a formal position statement just as if it were to be posted to the docket site. This may be in a letter or report format. There are no minimum or maximum length requirements. Papers should be single-spaced. References must be cited.