Fda Food Safety Modernization

The FDA “Food and Drug Administration” has implemented a new Food Safety Modernization Act “FSMA”, this Act went into effect on January 4, 2011. FSMA was put into place to protect the public from food that may cause serious bodily harm or even death. Congress along with President Obama have worked to set the law into legislation. A lot of the focus has gone into how food recalls are handled and who is responsible.

Under the FSMA Law, the broker would be responsible for keeping a record of food that they had custody of even if they assigned it to an independent contract carrier. Companies are also responsible for tracking food that is purchased for consumption by its employees and the general public. Water, juice, candy, chips and food supplements like vitamins and diet weight loss shakes would fall under this regulation. The law states that the responsible parties would be all of the following – anyone who distributes, receives, packs, processes, manufacturers or imports food and water products must keep and maintain a record of those products. This would include schools, food pantries and culinary schools.

The FDA has developed a prevention outline for food facilities that handle food. First they must establish a science base system that will allow them to safely produce and harvest fresh produce without serious concern to public health. Second have a system in place saying what they would do if it happened. Have a detail outline on hand at the facility readily available for viewing. Have mandatory inspections of food facility by state and federal agencies. If these processes are followed on a regular bases this lessens the chance for food contamination.

The FSMA has come up with an effective way to keep up the public safe when minimum requirements are not met in the facility in violation is required to issue a mandatory recall. If this is not done, then the FDA will issue the recall. Facilities found to be repeat offenders will be suspended...