Integrated Approaches to the Management of Food Safety throughout the Chain

Abstract

The existing US scheme of food safety responsibilities, involving the Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies, is based on laws and regulations that place responsibility for safety on those that produce, process, transport and store the food. In 1997, a new initiative to revamp the regulatory approach extended its scope throughout the food chain, "From Farm to Table." The initiative was needed to address signi ficant outbreaks of foodborne illness and increasing international trade, and was based on extensive consultation with all stakeholders. Actions that were taken to prevent and respond to foodborne illness involved improved recognition of foodborne illnesses and outbreaks, establishment of an outbreak response team, research on new technologies, development of good agricultural practices, food safety education, and increased federal-state partnerships. As a result, food safety is now seen as a sh ared responsibility between consumers, industry, and government at all levels with better-understood roles for each. Increased transparency and visibility have brought more resources, higher priority and incentives to implement the initiative.