FDA Considers Two Laws to Prevent Spread of Food-Borne Diseases

In a move that could take it closer to implementing the food safety law passed by the Congress more than two years ago, the US Food and Drug Administration is proposing two new laws that could help it prevent the spread of food borne diseases that kill thousands of Americans every year.

If the two laws are passed, then the FDA will transform itself from being an agency that simply investigates after an outbreak to one that actively ensures that any outbreaks are prevented.

The first rule will make it mandatory for both domestic and foreign producers of food items sold in the US to take steps to prevent and deal with any contamination while the second rule will be about preventing contamination of fruits and vegetables during harvesting.

"These new rules really set the basic framework for a modern, science-based approach to food safety and shift us from a strategy of reacting to problems to a strategy for preventing problems", the deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, Michael Taylor said.


Source: Medindia