Published: November 12, 2008 11:48 pm      

State officials visit area food pantry

NEW PARIS — The state secretaries of agriculture and health visited the New Paris United Methodist Food Pantry on Wednesday as part of a food safety tour.

Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolfe and Health Secretary Everette James are traveling across Pennsylvania to address food safety from the farm to the fork, they said in a press release.

“Our modern food system is complex and depends on many factors, from farmers producing a quality crop to consumers storing food at the appropriate temperature,” Wolfe said.

“These tours are an important step to understanding the precautions Pennsylvania producers, companies, manufacturers and organizations are already taking to ensure the safety of the food supply.”

After the food pantry stop, the release said the secretaries visited Sheetz headquarters and Sheetz Brothers Kitchen in Claysburg.

Then, at Penn State’s food science facilities in State College, a round table discussion on food safety was held with a panel of experts and industry leaders.

A discussion featuring consumer testimony will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Westmoreland County Conservation District Center in Greensburg.