The Benefits of Membership

Make Your Voice Heard As VI

  • Represents the vinegar industry on domestic and international matters, with offices in Atlanta, Georgia; New York, New York; Tucson, Arizona and Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium.
  • Monitors Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts regarding a variety of regulations, including labeling, health claims and food security and provides timely summaries prepared by VI legal counsel.
  • Intercedes on behalf of members to assist in compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
  • Participates in industry coalitions on a variety of issues, such as food security, biotechnology and food allergens, with an eye toward issues of interest to the vinegar industry. For example, VI participated in a Food Tanker Coalition, that developed food tanker safety and security guidelines that were praised by the FDA and subsequently placed on its Web site.
  • Voices the needs of the U.S. vinegar industry to international bodies, such as the Codex Alimentarius and the European Union, toward the goal of international harmonization.

Meet Your Peers and Maintain Industry Relations

  • Interact with colleagues and customers once a year at the VI Annual Meeting each March for an opportunity to discuss problems and solutions with your peers in legally approved forums. The Scientific Committee and Board of Directors also meet in September to discuss current Association work and plan projects for the upcoming fiscal year.
  • Address matters of mutual interest as an Associate member during the Annual Meeting through the valuable Associate Member Caucus. This session is designed as a forum for members of that segment of the industry to network and select Supplier representation to the Board.

Share Information

  • Receive e-mail bulletins and timely updates regarding industry-specific topics, including:
    • Use of vinegar/acetic acid to neutralize alkali burns.
    • FDA's proposed rules to implement the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act
    • Bureau of Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) proposal on required advance electronic presentation of cargo information.
    • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrient Database, which includes some vinegars.
    • Canada 's new mandatory labeling regulations.
    • European Union's new labeling rules for genetically modified products.
    • Occupational Safety and Health Administration Activity/Ergonomics.
  • Access VI's Web site “Members Only” section for VI news, including industry news, a calendar of events, the Membership Directory and the VI Labeling Manual. A Member Communications Archive acts as a virtual library of all VI communications sent to members and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Use the consumer section of VI's Web site as a useful tool for your consumers and the media alike with information on vinegar history, statistics, recipes, uses and tips. The site was recently updated with new information and to increase its appeal to consumers and media.

Gain Technical & Industry Knowledge

  • Utilize the collective knowledge of VI's Scientific Committee, whose charge is to ensure the Institute and its members remain proactive on technical issues affecting the vinegar industry.
  • Tap into staff assistance for regulatory, legislative and technical questions, including labeling, standards, food safety, food security and market issues.
  • Use a comprehensive scientific literature database on vinegar research.
  • Access VI's Basic Reference Manual, which includes regulatory information specifically related to vinegar, specifications for a variety of vinegars, testing procedures and more.

Work Toward Product Integrity

  • Maintenance of VI's Industry Integrity Program, which utilizes a third party pick-up service to obtain samples that are directly shipped to an independent laboratory for analysis…almost 200 samples have been tested since 1995.
  • Notification of label owners when there is suspected adulteration or mislabeled products after review by VI's Scientific Committee and Board of Directors.
  • Consultation with the FDA and VI legal counsel to obtain clarification on appropriate labeling of vinegar products, as necessary.

Promote Vinegar Products

  • Explore marketing opportunities, along with VI's Promotion Committee, with an eye toward increasing vinegar consumption in a manner to benefit all VI members.
  • Act as an industry liaison and providing information to the media for use in articles or features.
  • Respond to numerous consumer questions on the various uses of “versatile vinegar.”