FDA finalises two rules under FSMA to prevent foodborne illness

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalised the first two of seven major rules under the bipartisan FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), in a bid to prevent foodborne illness.

The new regulations are applicable to foods for humans, pets and livestock, and will ensure that food companies are taking action and working with the FDA to help customers.

The FDA said the latest action is aimed at making sure that the imported food meets the food safety standard as domestically produced food, and also to develop a nationally integrated food safety system in collaboration with state and local authorities.

FDA foods and veterinary medicine deputy commissioner Michael R Taylor said: "We’ve been working with states, food companies, farmers and consumers to create smart, practical and meaningful rules.

"And we have made a firm commitment to provide guidance, technical assistance and training to advance a food safety culture that puts prevention first."

The remaining FSMA rules are expected to be finalised next year, and after the implementation of those rules, they will work together to systematically strengthen the food safety system and better protect public health, the FDA stated.

All these regulations are aimed at enhancing food-manufacturing processes after the continuous foodborne illness outbreaks linked to ice-cream, caramel apples, cantaloupes, and peanuts over the last decade.

The US Government introduced the FSMA in 2011, with an aim to shift the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it.

According to recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that around 48 million people get sick each year from foodborne diseases in the country.

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Image: The new regulations will ensure that food companies are taking action to prevent foodborne diseases. Photo: courtesy of KEKO64/ Freedigitalphotos.net.