Here they are:
The first rule will give the FDA the right to embargo "suspect" food so that it can not enter the marketplace. This refers to food for which there is proof that it has been produced under unsanitary or unsafe conditions (such as incorrect pasteurization or canning, unsafe storage, lack of testing) but which may not as yet have a specific contaminant identified. I have been listing some under "Alerts". Basically, this will give the FDA up to 30 days to see what other measures should be taken (hopefully the food will not go bad in the meantime).
The other rule relates to imported foods - both for humans and animals. This rule requires that anyone importing food into the U.S. has to inform the FDA if any other country has refused entry to this same product. Yes, it happens: a product refused entry by one country, because it is found to be harmful, is then sent off to another unsuspecting one, hoping no one will find out. There have been some embarrassing situations over the years.
Personally, I think these are good regulations, which should help to make the U.S. food supply safer. What I particularly like, is that we are going further upstream in terms of prevention.
Both rules will take effect July 3, 2011.
TSF
2 comments:
Prevention is better than cure and I don't think that food supply in the US would experience shortage if FDA embargoes some of those believed to be harmful. I just hope that the cut on FDA's budget won't affect their performance to do the quality check on incoming food supplies.
The Pearl restaurant survival warehouse food supplies in Nantucket served these with fried calamari...delicious!
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