Regulatory concerns include audits and inspections, government agencies, the pivotal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and international standards and guidances.
Audits are an important tool for verifying the safety and quality of a company's or facility's food products. Audits are conducted both internally and by certified third-party certification entities. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is a private organization that benchmarks different auditing certification platforms as meeting its criteria to provide a harmonized umbrella certification.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating about 80 percent of the U.S. food supply, encompassing all foods and food ingredients introduced into or offered for sale in interstate commerce, except for meat, poultry, certain processed egg products, and catfish, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) gave FDA new authority to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested, and processed. FSMA grants FDA the authority to impose mandatory recalls and has paved the way for the issuance of more than a dozen rulemakings and at least ten guidance documents. FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety builds on the work done to implement FSMA.
Guidelines for industry include draft guidance from regulatory agencies and recommended practices for industry to help ensure the production of safe food that is free from contamination.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement, and handling, to manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of finished products.
Inspections cover many areas of food and beverage production, from farms and ranches to food processing facilities to restaurants. Inspectors are trained to ensure that facilities and equipment are in proper working order and properly sanitized, maintained, and permitted.
Food safety standards vary by country and world region, and different aspects of food safety are regulated differently depending on the region. Harmonization and tightening of food safety standards around the world are important as emerging countries seek to improve quality of life by ensuring safer food for all people.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees meat, poultry, and egg products, accounting for 20 percent or less of the food supply. The majority of the food supply (80 percent or more) is regulated by FDA. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) ensures that the U.S. meat, poultry, and processed egg supply is safe and properly labeled.
The fifth annual meeting of the International Head of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF) convened in Singapore from April 16–20, 2024, bringing together food safety officials from 18 countries and representatives from international food safety and public health organizations.
In a letter addressed to key U.S. congressional leaders, the Safe Food Coalition (SFC) expressed its opposition to the DIRECT Act, the PRIME Act, and the New Markets Act, which would lift prohibitions on the interstate sale of meat and poultry from state inspected facilities and allow commercial sales from uninspected “custom” slaughter facilities.
The Alliance for a Stronger FDA has published its “ask” for Fiscal Year 2025 funding for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is $214 million more than the Presidential budget request submitted by FDA for FY 2025.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)—as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA Act, also known as the Superfund Act).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published testing results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) in foods collected as part of its Total Diet Study (TDS), and has provided an update on the agency’s activities to better understand and address PFAS in the U.S. food supply, including an updated analytical method to measure the chemicals.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is partnering with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) to present upcoming Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards Self-Assessment and Verification Audit (SAVA) Workshops at industry events taking place during summer 2024.
On May 3, 2024 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold a webinar featuring representatives from the State of Iowa and Richmond County, North Carolina who will discuss how their jurisdictions achieved conformance with all nine of FDA’s Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
Allergen-related food recalls have increased since the introduction of FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act in 2011. This article shares the fundamentals of conducting an allergen gap assessment to help companies comply with new FDA guidance on allergen management.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an order regarding maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in spices and culinary herbs, in alignment with Codex Alimentarius guidelines and the MRLs adopted by the U.S., the EU, Japan, and Australia/New Zealand.
On Demand:This discussion will center on a conversation with top regulators and advisory groups about the key issues, updates, and initiatives happening within their organizations.
On Demand: From this webinar, you will learn an invaluable understanding of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 from the architect of Rule 204, Frank Yiannas, which will demystify its nuances and progress.
On Demand: In this webinar, the speakers will discuss the RCA workshop they led at the 2023 Food Safety Summit that included a hands-on exercise and the presentation of case studies, and they will preview their planned RCA session at the 2024 Food Safety Summit.
Live: April 30, 2024 at 3:00 pm EDT: Join our webinar to explore these critical issues and learn actionable solutions to efficiently manage maximum residue levels (MRLs).