BREWERIES FIGHTING PROPOSED FDA RULING

Brewers steep grains such as barley and wheat in hot water then send the leftovers to farmers to feed their livestock.  Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?  Now the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rule change means brewers will have to meet the same standards as livestock and pet-food manufacturers, imposing new sanitary handling procedures, record keeping and other food safety processes on brewers.

The brewers say the rule is onerous and imposes burdens and costs that may end the sustainable practice of supplying low cost feed for livestock.  Instead it will go to landfill.  So far there hasn’t been a single instance of illness associated with the spent grain program.  The FDA is collecting comments through April 7 and two major brewers’ associations have mobilized against it.