The Environmental Protection Agency last week refused a request from Texas Governor Rick Perry for relief from the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, which many food industry groups, including IDFA, say is contributing to record food price inflation. The governor asked for lower ethanol requirements to alleviate pressure on corn prices, but the EPA ruled that the mandate wasn't causing severe economic harm. "We are disappointed that the EPA has ignored very obvious signs that our federal ethanol policy is fueling global food costs," said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president. In June, IDFA joined other industry groups as a member of the "Food Before Fuel" campaign, asking Congress to revisit U.S. biofuel mandates and subsidies. For more information, click here.