STATEHOUSE—A bill authored by State Rep. Bill Davis (R-Portland) concerning food safety in commercial vehicles and to promote consumer safety passed the House this week by a vote of 96-0. House Bill (HB) 1298 will now move onto the Senate for further consideration.

Although the federal government provides most of the guidelines for food safety, individual states are responsible for protecting food supplies during transportation.  HB 1298 allows the Indiana State Police (ISP) to inspect commercial vehicles to ensure they are complying with food safety standards.  If a trooper finds evidence of contamination, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) initiates a thorough investigation.

“Every day our food products are carried by commercial trucks, so we need to be sure there are effective means of enforcing food transportation safety standards,” said Rep. Davis. “By covering the federal gap, the state can help protect not just the safety and reputation of the trucking industry, but also, most importantly, our families from possible dangerous contaminants in our food.”

During the committee hearings, the food safety legislation was supported by the ISP, Farm Bureau, and the Indiana Retail Council.  The bill does not target private citizens carrying groceries; it applies only to commercial vehicles that are transporting large quantities of food.

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