ABA holds 2010 policy meeting

The American Bakers Association (ABA) held its 2010 policy conference meeting in June. Representatives from the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) and nonprofit Share Our Strength spoke about their groups' partnership and the push to eliminate childhood hunger while also tackling rising obesity.

Representative John Kline (R-Minn.), the ranking minority member of the House Education and Labor Committee, spoke about current labor issues, including the pending Employee Free Choice Act, and Representative Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), member of both the House Agriculture and Education and Labor Committees, discussed health care reform.

IBA discusses current affairs

The Independent Bakers Association (IBA) held its 36th annual convention in June. Labor was a hot topic, with Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, discussing the Employee Free Choice Act, and attorney Mark Dreux pointing out the new labor-leaning leadership of OSHA.

Ingredient issues also were addressed, with announcements that domestic production of sugar will be short this year, but that the supply of wheat will meet the demand. Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute, asked bakers to fight back against the new sodium limits that emerged earlier in June as part of the preliminary 2010 food guidelines.

Other subjects addressed included the new health care legislation and environmental policy.