How Food Safety

Systems Protect our Food Supply

The implementation and maintenance of strict food safety systems ensures the

health and safety of the public.

The only time most people think about these systems is when they break down, for example in the August 2010 egg recall case.

After increased outbreaks of Salmonella Enteriditis

occurred, …

food safety personnel quickly traced the source of the outbreak to eggs from producers in Iowa,

which resulted in the recall of over 500 million eggs.

All three branches of the US Government are involved with

public food safety, including the enforcement of statutes, …

regulation and the judicial branch is involved in rendering decisions

when problems occur within our food safety systems.

Companies that produce any kind of food have a legal responsibility to

ensure that it is safe for public consumption, and overall the public

has great confidence in these systems.

We can trust that the flour we purchase, for example, will have

been stored, milled, processed and packaged under strict regulation

and is safe for us to consume.

Scientists, food safety regulatory bodies and public health officials

work hand in hand to maintain safe food safety, and all processes are

transparent and open to the public’s scrutiny at any time.

There are five main federal organizations responsible for

consumer protection where food is concerned, but dozens of other

smaller agencies are involved too.

The FDA is probably the first that comes to mind, but other bodies

include the DHHS, the organization directly involved in …

the inspection of food is the FSIS and it is apparent what function the Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service performs.

The Customs Service checks all foods imported into this country,

which adds up to many millions of tons each year.

The National Marine Fisheries Service inspects the fish we eat, and a specialist organization checks out

foods that are biologically engineered.

One of the main aims of these food safety systems is to focus on

eradicating microbial pathogens in food, which are avoidable, …

so a system of checks are in place along the entire length of the

processing chain, beginning with the farm and ending with the

public’s dinner table.

This focus has changed from concentrating on the risks from food additives and other risks to human

health although these are still considered to be very important.

Risk analysis of Salmonella in eggs is complete, also studies of e.coli in ground beef and “Mad

Cow Disease” (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).

Risk analysis is currently undergoing for Listeria, which can occur in some

prepared foods.

So next time you are in the supermarket, consider the

complex and effective food safety systems put in place by our

government for your protection.

An excellent source of practical advice about food safety systems including produce traceability can

be found athttp://www.redlineforproduce.com