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FOOD POLICY & OPERATIONS

Food Northwest Operations & Technical Affairs Committee (OTA)

KRAIG BERGMANNChair: Kraig Bergmann, The Krusteaz Company
Staff Coordinator: Pam Barrow, [email protected]

Membership on the committee is open to all food manufacturer members.  Contact Pam Barrow if you are interested in joining. The committee promotes competitiveness and regulatory compliance by focusing broadly on the technical aspects of plant efficiency and cost reduction, food safety, product and plant security, and other operations-oriented technical issues. The committee evaluates, develops positions, and influences state and federal food policies, regulations, and legislation. The committee is guided by its Priorities.

For Food Northwest’s food safety policies, see our 2025 Public Policy Positions.

Current issues and activities include:

  • Promoting the needs and interests of food processors to the FDA, USDA, and state and federal regulators and legislators.
  • Definition of ultra-processed food, ingredient regulations, GRAS amendments, food labeling, and food traceability.
  • Promoting a food safety culture.
  • Annual regulatory meeting at the Food Northwest Process & Packaging Expo in January 2027.

See the following documents:

  • Food Northwest comments to FDA on the Definition of Ultra-Processed Food.
  • Letter to U.S. Congress supporting federal food standards and not a “patchwork” of state laws.

Looking for the Listeria checklist? Visit this page!

What about Sanitary Design? Go here!