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Appendix G
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Protection Plan
An integrated strategy for protecting the nation’s food supply
November 2007
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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“Americans enjoy unprecedented choice and convenience in filling the cupboard today, but we also face new challenges to ensuring that our food is safe. This Food Protection Plan will implement a strategy of prevention, intervention and response to build safety into every step of the food supply chain.”
Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER
As a physician and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, protecting America’s food supply is extremely important to me.
American consumers have one of the safest food supplies in the world, but the world is changing and we know it can be safer. New food sources, advances in production and distribution methods, and the growing volume of imports due to consumer demand call for a new approach to protecting our food from unintentional or deliberate contamination. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must keep pace with these changes so that the safety of the nation’s food supply remains second to none.
In the past few years, FDA has introduced several initiatives that address microbial and other food safety hazards with domestic or imported produce and that guide industry practices in the safe production of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. FDA has also worked hard to raise awareness about food defense issues and preparedness. These are just a few things we are doing to improve food safety and food defense.
Recent nationwide recalls remind us how devastating foodborne illness can be. In the past year, contaminated peanut butter led to illnesses in more than 300 people and at least 50 hospitalizations. Contaminated spinach resulted in 206 illnesses, three deaths, and more than 100 people hospitalized. Reports of kidney failure and deaths in cats and dogs prompted a recall of more than 100 brands of pet food.
For every one of these emergencies, the FDA responded immediately to minimize harm. FDA investigators traced each problem’s source and worked without delay to remove the affected products from market shelves. FDA staff continue to work diligently to protect our food supply, by containing outbreaks and preventing further illnesses.
With this FDA Food Protection Plan we are going even further. It is a forward-oriented concept that uses science and modern information technology to identify potential hazards ahead of time. By preventing most harm before it can occur, enhancing our intervention methods at key points in the food production system, and strengthening our ability to respond immediately when problems are identified, FDA can provide a food protection framework that keeps the American food supply safe.
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
Commissioner of Food and Drugs
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Executive Summary
510
II. Introduction
513
III. Changes and Challenges
517
• Trends in Demographics and Consumption,
517
○ Shifting Demographics,
518
○ Convenience Trends,
518
○ Consumption Patterns,
519
• Global Food Supply,
519
• New Threats,
521
○ New Foodborne Pathogens,
521
○ Intentional Contamination,
522
• Communication,
523
IV. An Overview of the Approach
524
• Core Elements,
524
○ Prevention—Build safety in from the start,
525
○ Intervention—Verify prevention and intervene when risks are identified,
525
○ Response—Respond rapidly and appropriately,
526
• Cross-Cutting Principles,
526
1. Focus on risks over a product’s life cycle from production to consumption,
526
2. Target resources to achieve maximum risk reduction,
527
3. Address both unintentional and deliberate contamination,
528
4. Use science and modern technology systems,
528
V. The Integrated Plan
529
• Core Element #1: Prevention,
529
1.1 Promote Increased Corporate Responsibility to Prevent Foodborne Illnesses,
531
1.2 Identify Food Vulnerabilities and Assess Risks,
535
1.3 Expand the Understanding and Use of Effective Mitigation Measures,
536
• Core Element #2: Intervention,
537
2.1 Focus Inspections and Sampling Based on Risk,
538
2.2 Enhance Risk-Based Surveillance,
541
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2.3 Improve the Detection of Food System “Signals” That Indicate Contamination,
544
• Core Element #3: Response,
545
3.1 Improve Immediate Response,
546
3.2 Improve Risk Communications to the Public, Industry and Other Stakeholders,
549
VI. Enhance Information Technology
551
VII. Conclusion
552
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I.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FDA is implementing a Food Protection Plan (the Plan) that addresses both food safety and food defense for domestic and imported products. The Plan is integrated with the Administration’s Import Safety Action Plan. The Food Protection Plan operates through a set of integrated strategies that:
Focus on risks over a product’s life cycle from production to consumption
Target resources to achieve maximum risk reduction
Address both unintentional and deliberate contamination
Use science and modern technology systems
FDA’s Integrated Plan Provides Three Elements of Protection
PREVENT Foodborne Contamination
Promote Increased Corporate Responsibility to Prevent Foodborne Illnesses
Identify Food Vulnerabilities and Assess Risks
Expand the Understanding and Use of Effective Mitigation Measures
INTERVENE at Critical Points in the Food Supply Chain
Focus Inspections and Sampling Based on Risk
Enhance Risk-Based Surveillance
Improve the Detection of Food System “Signals” That Indicate Contamination
RESPOND Rapidly to Minimize Harm
Improve Immediate Response
Improve Risk Communications to the Public, Industry and Other Stakeholders
FDA recognizes the need to partner with Congress to make the changes necessary to transform the safety of the nation’s food supply. This plan identifies the administrative actions we are proposing to take within the Agency. This Plan also recommends legislative changes to strengthen FDA’s ability to continue to protect Americans from foodborne illnesses.
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ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS THAT INVOLVE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO FDA’S AUTHORITY
PREVENT Foodborne Contamination
Allow FDA to Require Preventive Controls to Prevent Intentional Adulteration by Terrorists or Criminals at Points of High Vulnerability in the Food Chain
Authorize FDA to Issue Additional Preventive Controls for High-Risk Foods
Require Food Facilities to Renew Their FDA Registrations Every Two Years, and Allow FDA to Modify the Registration Categories
INTERVENE at Critical Points in the Food Supply Chain
Authorize FDA to Accredit Highly Qualified Third Parties for Voluntary Food Inspections
Require New Reinspection Fee From Facilities That Fail to Meet current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
Authorize FDA to Require Electronic Import Certificates for Shipments of Designated High-Risk Products
Require New Food and Animal Feed Export Certification Fee to Improve the Ability of U.S. Firms to Export Their Products
Provide Parity Between Domestic and Imported Foods if FDA Inspection Access is Delayed, Limited, or Denied
RESPOND Rapidly to Minimize Harm
Empower FDA to Issue a Mandatory Recall of Food Products When Voluntary Recalls Are Not Effective
Give FDA Enhanced Access to Food Records During Emergencies
FDA plans to enhance its information technology (IT) capabilities to fully support the implementation of the FDA Food Protection Plan.
For More Information
For follow up information on this report, contact:
Kari Barrett
Senior Advisor, Food Protection Team
Room 14B-17
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone 301.827.9831
Email: FoodProtection@fda.hhs.gov
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To download a copy of this report, go to http://www.fda.gov/FDAgov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodSafetyPrograms/FoodProtectionPlan2007/ucm132565.htm or for a pdf version go to http://www.fda.gov/FDAgov/downloads/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm132573.PDF.
For more in-depth information on the many programs FDA has underway to protect the nation’s food supply, go to the Food Protection main page at http://www.fda.gov/FDAgov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodSafetyPrograms/Food-ProtectionPlan2007/default.htm.
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II.
INTRODUCTION
Every day across the country, people eat out, buy groceries, and cook meals for their families. Americans expect that all their food will be safe, and FDA plays a critical role in making sure this is true. FDA is responsible for the safety of the vast range of food Americans eat; about 80 percent of all food sold in the United States. This includes everything except for meat, poultry, and processed egg products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In May 2007, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt and Commissioner of Food and Drugs Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., charged FDA with developing a comprehensive and integrated FDA Food Protection Plan to keep the nation’s food supply safe from both unintentional and deliberate contamination. Driven by science and modern information technology, the Plan aims to identify potential hazards and counter them before they can do harm. A cornerstone of this forward-thinking effort is an increased focus on prevention.
The Plan builds in safety measures to address risks throughout a product’s life cycle, from the time a food is produced to the time it is distributed and consumed. The Plan focuses FDA’s efforts on preventing problems first, and then uses risk-based interventions to ensure preventive approaches are effective. The Plan also calls for a rapid response as soon as contaminated food or feed is detected or when there is harm to people or animals.
FDA’s integrated approach, within the Food Protection Plan, encompasses three core elements: prevention, intervention and response.
The prevention element means promoting increased corporate responsibility so that food problems do not occur in the first place. By comprehensively reviewing food supply vulnerabilities and developing and implementing risk reduction measures with industry and other stakeholders, FDA can best address critical weaknesses.
The intervention element focuses on risk-based inspections, sampling, and surveillance at high risk points in the food supply chain. These interventions must verify that the preventive measures are in fact being implemented, and done so correctly.
The response element bolsters FDA’s emergency response efforts by allowing for increased speed and efficiency. It also includes the idea of better communication with other federal, state, and local government agencies and industry during and after emergencies. Whether contamination is unintentional or deliberate, there is a
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need to respond quickly and to communicate clearly with consumers and other stakeholders. The communication should emphasize identifying products of concern as well as assuring the public of what is safe to consume.
Under its FoodNet program (www.cdc.gov/foodnet), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors foodborne microorganisms that cause illness and tracks trends.
Relative rates compared with 1996-1998 baseline period of laboratory-diagnosed cases of infection with Campylobacter, STEC O157, Listeria, Salmonella and Vibrio, by year.
This graph shows the progress that has been made in reducing food-borne infections. Other than recent increases in Vibrio- and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157-related illness, the incidence of illnesses associated with these foodborne microorganisms has mostly remained steady or gone down since the late 1990s, although further progress is needed. Note that the graph represents all illnesses associated with the five types of bacteria, not just that from contaminated food. The graph also represents illnesses from foods not regulated by FDA.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This graph shows the progress that has been made in reducing foodborne infections. Other than recent increases in Vibrio- and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157-related illness, the incidence of illnesses asso-
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ciated with these foodborne microorganisms has mostly remained steady or gone down since the late 1990s, although further progress is needed. Note that the graph represents all illnesses associated with the five types of bacteria, not just that from contaminated food. The graph also represents illnesses from foods not regulated by FDA.
FDA is committed to strengthening the nation’s food protection system through implementation of the FDA Food Protection Plan. The Plan’s strategic and partnered activities are driven by science and incorporate the use of 21st-century technologies.
Scope of the Food Protection Plan
Three Core Elements
Applies to food for people and animals
Addresses domestic and imported products
Encompasses food safety (unintentional contamination) and food defense (deliberate contamination)
Prevention
Intervention
Response
FDA Regulates Roughly 80 Percent of the U.S. Food Supply
FDA regulates $417 billion worth of domestic food and $49 billion in imported food1 annually.
FDA has oversight of more than 136,000 registered domestic food facilities (including more than 44,000 U.S. food manufacturers and processors and approximately 113,000 U.S. food warehouses, including storage tanks and grain elevators).2
FDA or state and local authorities regulate more than 2 million farms, roughly 935,000 restaurants and institutional food service establishments, and 114,000 supermarkets, grocery stores, and
1
Based on FDA value-of-shipment information, 2003.
2
Facilities that are engaged in more than one type of activity (e.g., manufacturing and warehousing) are counted in both categories; thus, the sum of the individual numbers of type of facilities exceeds the number of total registered facilities.
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of the imported product, through such means as enhanced use of information-sharing agreements with key foreign countries.
In addition, FDA will continue to look for enhanced ways to use risk-based screening technology to identify products that pose health risks at the border. For example, a screening technology prototype is currently being tested on imported seafood products in Los Angeles. If demonstrated successful, this technology could be extended to other imported products and ports, thus enhancing the FDA’s ability to quickly screen products at the border.
FDA’s current and planned actions, along with the proposed legislative changes, would:
Better focus on the imported products’ total life cycle.
Improve data systems to monitor foreign-produced food products.
2.3
IMPROVE THE DETECTION OF FOOD SYSTEM “SIGNALS” THAT INDICATE CONTAMINATION
STRENGTHEN FDA ACTIONS
Deploy new rapid screening tools and methods to identify pathogens and other contaminants.
Improve FDA’s adverse event and consumer complaint reporting systems, including capturing complaints made to food manufacturers and distributors.
Work to create a Reportable Food Registry for reports of a determination that there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to an article of food will cause serious harm or death to humans or animals [as defined in the 2007 Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA)]. Under FDAAA, industry is expected to report such situations to the FDA within 24 hours.
Work to create an Early Warning Surveillance and Notification System to identify adulterated pet food products, outbreaks of pet illness and to provide notice to veterinarians and other stakeholders during pet food recalls (as defined in the 2007 Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act or FDAAA).
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ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY NEEDED
None.
WHY THESE ACTIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH
FDA can better detect and more quickly identify risk “signals” in the food supply chain via two key approaches: 1) deploying new rapid screening tools and methods to identify pathogens and other contaminants; and 2) enhancing its ability to “map” or trace adverse events back to their causes (whether reported to FDA or the food manufacturer or distributor) by improving its adverse event and consumer complaint reporting systems. This additional information will serve as a supplemental warning indicator for trending emerging food protection problems.
To provide the information necessary to allow for early detection of, and intervention with, contaminated animal feed, FDA will develop a centralized database for veterinarians that captures data on food safety incidents and the causes of food-related illness. The FDA will populate the database with key information from the veterinary community, veterinary hospitals, and other private U.S. sources.
FDA’s current and planned actions would identify:
signals that may indicate a problem with food from routine testing, consumer complaints, industry reporting and documented illnesses.
CORE ELEMENT #3:
RESPONSE
During the past year, FDA responded to food safety problems with contaminated spinach, lettuce, vegetable proteins, and peanut butter, among other foods. Whether contamination is unintentional or deliberate, there is a need to respond faster and communicate more effectively with consumers and other partners.
The following key response steps will increase FDA’s ability to quickly identify food safety problems, better coordinate a rapid emergency response among FDA, state and local government response teams as appropriate,
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and improve communications to the public, industry and other partners. This will better protect public health, help reduce the economic hardship affected industries face, and most importantly, maintain consumer confidence in the U.S. food supply following an incident.
The Plan’s Key Response Steps
Improve Immediate Response
Improve Risk Communications to the Public, Industry and Other Stakeholders
3.1
IMPROVE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
STRENGTHEN FDA ACTIONS
Enhance the data collection, incident reporting and emergency response mapping capabilities of FDA’s Emergency Operations Network Incident Management System.
Work with stakeholders to develop an action plan for implementing more effective trace-back process improvements and technologies to more rapidly and precisely track the origin and destination of contaminated foods, feed, and ingredients.
Increase collaboration with foreign, federal, state, and local FDA partners to identify a contamination source, remove contaminated products, and implement corrective actions.
Work with CDC and other selected federal, state, and local testing labs to communicate real-time testing results among FDA and lab members.
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ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY NEEDED
Empower FDA to Issue a Mandatory Recall of Food Products When Voluntary Recalls Are Not Effective
Although FDA has the authority to seize adulterated or misbranded food, this is not a practical option when contaminated product has already been distributed to hundreds or thousands of locations. And while the FDA has been able to accomplish most recalls through voluntary actions by product manufacturers or distributors, there are situations in which firms are unwilling to conduct a recall. In such situations FDA needs the ability to require a firm to conduct a recall to ensure the prompt and complete removal of food from distribution channels. This authority would be limited to foods that the Secretary has reason to believe are adulterated and present a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death. It would be imposed only if a firm refuses or unduly delays conducting a voluntary recall. An order to recall food could only be issued by the HHS Secretary, Deputy Secretary, or Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and would be accompanied by appropriate due process rights.
Provide FDA Enhanced Access to Food Records During Emergencies
During food-related emergencies, the FDA needs more complete and streamlined access to records necessary to identify the source of food-borne illness and take needed action. Improved access to information, including records related to an article of food or related articles of food that may present a threat, will enhance FDA’s ability to identify problems, respond quickly and appropriately, and protect public health.
Currently, emergency access to records is limited to instances where, for an article of food, FDA has a reasonable belief that the food is adulterated and presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death. FDA proposes to expand access to records of related articles of food, such as food produced on the same manufacturing line. FDA also proposes, in food-related emergencies, to remove the adulteration requirement to allow its inspectors access to records in emergency situations where FDA has a reasonable belief that an article of food presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death. The recent melamine situation in which FDA had early clinical evidence that a specific food was causing illness in pets but did not have clear evidence of a specific adulteration is an example of such a scenario.
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The records access would relate only to safety or security of the food and would not apply to records pertaining to recipes, financial data, pricing data, personnel data, research data, and sales data. The requirement would not impose any new recordkeeping burdens, and would maintain the current statutory exclusions for the records of farms and restaurants.
WHY THESE ACTIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH
Recent food safety threats have demonstrated the importance of FDA’s emergency response system. Contaminant tracing—or identifying where the contaminant has traveled within the food or feed supply—is critical in rapidly containing potential risks. Working with partners, FDA will pursue improvements to the current trace-back process and develop an action plan for implementing process improvements to more rapidly and precisely track the origin and destination of contaminated foods, feed, and ingredients.
As part of that effort, FDA will work with selected federal, state, and local testing labs to communicate real-time testing results among FDA and lab members.
FDA will also increase collaboration with foreign, state, and local regulators to identify the source of contamination, remove contaminated products as quickly as possible, and implement measures needed to prevent future contamination.
These improvements will allow FDA to quickly isolate problems, prevent contaminated products from reaching consumers, and ensure targeted recalls of products. Such steps aim to minimize the public health and economic impact from an outbreak.
FDA’s current and planned actions, along with the proposed legislative changes, would:
Enhance the nation’s food emergency response system.
Expand the FDA’s trace-back process.
Improve multi-partner collaborations, including with foreign regulators.
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3.2
IMPROVE RISK COMMUNICATIONS TO THE PUBLIC, INDUSTRY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
STRENGTHEN FDA ACTIONS
Work with communications and media experts, including FDA’s Risk Communication Advisory Committee, to design and conduct consumer communications and behavior response studies.
Update the Food Protection Risk Communications Plan using the most effective strategies for sharing information with consumers.
Build a consumer Web site to communicate relevant food protection information.
In a food-related emergency, implement this communications plan, including utilizing all relevant media and technologies to reach consumers, retailers, industry, public health officials, and other stakeholders resulting in a better informed and thus more resilient population.
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY NEEDED
None.
WHY THESE ACTIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH
Consumers protect themselves and their families from foodborne illness by responding promptly to FDA alerts. Important messages must be communicated clearly and through multiple forms of media to be effective, because different segments of the population use different technologies, ranging from television and newspapers to text messages and podcasts. In addition, major segments of the population do not use English as their primary language and rely on still other sources of information. This increases the challenge of implementing effective communication strategies.
Retailers, public health officials, industry and other key stakeholders likewise use an array of communications vehicles and sources. FDA’s communication strategy during emergencies must use all such media to reach these different audiences and ensure that potentially harmful products are removed promptly.
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FDA will enhance its risk communication program through aggressive, targeted food safety campaigns that disseminate clear and effective messages and regular updates through multiple venues to all targeted audiences. This program’s designers will solicit input from the new FDA Risk Communications Advisory Committee, which is tasked with obtaining expert advice in the field of risk communications.
FDA’s current and planned actions will enable the FDA to:
Communicate more effectively with consumers.
Provide more rapid alerts to all stakeholders, including retailers, industry, public health officials, and the consumers.
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VI.
ENHANCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
In support of all three components of the Food Protection Plan, FDA plans to enhance its IT systems related to both domestic and imported foods. The focus will be to help the FDA more rapidly identify food importers, and maintain, update, and search records on food facilities and shipments more efficiently.
In particular, FDA will enhance collaboration with CBP on IT systems to more accurately identify firms involved in the food import supply chain during the import screening and review processes. These systems will allow for analysis of historical risk data about firms when making entry decisions for the firms’ products.
A new systems approach can eliminate many problems with our current data. For example, assigning a unique identifier will eliminate duplicate records and make risk data about a firm easier to access. Policies for requiring the use of the new single national identifier will need to be established and agreed upon, recognizing the impact on industry worldwide.
Nearly all FDA business processes will benefit from more reliable and accurate information. Implementation of a new system will require a coordinated multi-agency effort that will benefit all federal agencies that process imported foods. CBP’s existing data and ongoing activity will play a key role.
Finally, FDA will ensure that its infrastructure and disaster recovery system for IT systems and data are ready to deal with planned (maintenance and upgrades) and unplanned outages. This will provide the necessary support for import operations, which require the availability of multiple FDA systems around the clock. As an example, shipments arrive at U.S. ports day and night, and Prior Notice data are submitted at all hours. IT systems provide screening of the data as they are submitted, and Prior Notice Center (PNC) staff work around the clock to review the risk presented by shipments before their arrival. The PNC needs to review shipment data in as little as two hours from submission. Any interruption in the availability of the computer systems prevents the filing and timely review of information. This affects the flow of goods into the United States, and poses a safety risk to consumers.
An integrated, IT infrastructure—with data gathering, sorting, mining, and trending capability built into the systems—is critical to the success of FDA’s food protection efforts.
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VII.
CONCLUSION
Ensuring that FDA-regulated products are safe and secure is a vital part of FDA’s mission—to protect and promote public health. The FDA remains committed to working closely with its partners to protect the nation’s food supply.
In the United States, market forces give companies a strong motivation to be vigilant and even innovative in ensuring food safety. The laws of regulation must encourage, not disrupt, these motivations. Rather than taking over responsibility from food companies, FDA wants to protect their flexibility to pursue it vigorously.
Although we have made progress, much remains to be done. Recent incidents of contaminated food and animal feed have highlighted the importance of a strong food protection system. Americans rightly expect to purchase food without having to worry about safety.
Rising food imports, increasing consumption of convenience foods, and new foodborne pathogens are among the challenges we face. To address these challenges, we must move toward a food safety and defense system that is more proactive and strategic.
FDA’s Food Protection Plan contains three core elements—prevention, intervention, and response—with greater emphasis on preventive measures that keep contaminated food from ever reaching consumers. The Plan operates through a set of integrated strategies that address the product life cycle, a risk-based allocation of resources, the integration of food safety and food defense, and builds on a foundation of science and modern information systems.
FDA’s Food Protection Plan complements the nation’s strategic framework for import safety, which was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in September 2007. Both plans focus efforts on working smarter and better with importers, manufacturers, and other government agencies.
FDA will aggressively pursue the Food Protection Plan so that U.S. consumers can be assured that their food remains among the safest in the world.
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