Important food safety regulations and who makes them

Food safety is a vast topic. From growing fresh produce to food processing, cooking, and serving to the customers, food handlers have to maintain extreme caution. To ensure safety standards are followed at every stage of the food supply chain, the United States has set up multiple departments and organizations.

For instance, the United States Food and Drug Administration monitors tobacco products, dietary supplements, medicines, and drugs as part of its aim to promote and protect public health. Food Safety Modernization Act authorizes the United States Food and Drug Administration to regulate the way food, fruits vegetables, and cereals are grown, harvested, and processed.

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) came into existence after millions of cases of foodborne disease were reported in early 2000s.

Similarly, United States Department Agriculture is responsible for monitoring food , agriculture and nutrition. It formulates and issues guidelines on food safety and quality. It ensures meat and poultry products are safe to consume and properly labeled.

The main aim of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is to create awareness regarding the ideal way of handling food products . It issues advisories on safe food cooking and storing temperatures, food handling to prevent foodborne illness and promote public health .

The United States has its food code that mentions the standards related to food preparation, packaging and preserving. The US FDA has also come up with a food safety management system Hazard Analysis Critical Control to analyze the possibilities of food safety hazards and suggests preventive steps.

All of these departments make sure that the wholesale and retail food sellers , restaurant owners and farmers abide by the federal regulations and food protection laws to nurture public health .