Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason for the safety of the food supply in the United States?
A team effort conducted by cooperating federal, state, and local agencies that regulate and monitor the production and distribution of food.
Which federal agencies are responsible for regulating the country's food industry?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
What is the main purpose of HACCP programs in food manufacturing practices?
To prevent food-borne illness by predicting which hazards are most likely to occur in a food production facility.
What action can FDA officials take if a food manufacturer does not comply with food safety laws?
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What is another important function of the FDA besides regulating the food industry?
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What is the purpose of displaying restaurant sanitation ratings in many communities?
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What can happen to restaurants that do not receive high enough sanitation ratings?
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What other federal agencies, besides the FDA and USDA, are involved in protecting the food supply?
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Which federal agency is responsible for ensuring the safety of meat and poultry products in the United States?
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What action can FSIS officials take if a food hazard is identified?
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Which federal agency is responsible for overseeing the quality of drinking water in the United States?
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Why are water-borne disease-causing microbes not a major public health threat in the United States?
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What is the role of local health departments in ensuring food safety?
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Why is it not always possible to rely on our senses to judge the wholesomeness of a food?
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What should you do if you suspect that something you consumed made you or a family member very sick?
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What is the importance of proper food handling practices in preventing food-borne illness?
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Study Notes
Protecting Our Food
- The United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, primarily due to the teamwork of federal, state, and local agencies that regulate and monitor food production and distribution.
Key Federal Agencies
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating nearly all domestic and imported food sold in interstate commerce and enforcing federal food safety laws.
- The FDA establishes standards for safe food manufacturing practices, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs.
- HACCP is a science-based approach to preventing food-borne illness by predicting and preventing hazards in food production facilities.
- The FDA educates the public about safe food-handling practices and can take enforcement actions, such as requesting recalls of unsafe products.
Role of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
- FSIS enforces food safety laws for domestic and imported meat and poultry products.
- FSIS staff inspect animals for diseases before and after slaughter and ensure that meat and poultry processing plants meet federal standards.
- FSIS collects and analyzes food samples to check for microbial and other unwanted substances and can request recalls of unsafe products.
- FSIS educates people about proper food-handling practices.
Role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The EPA oversees the quality of drinking water and establishes safe drinking water standards.
- EPA staff assist state officials in monitoring water quality and regulate toxic substances and wastes to prevent their entry into foods and the environment.
State and Local Agencies
- State and local officials work with federal agencies to implement national food safety standards for foods produced and sold within their state's borders.
- Local health departments are responsible for inspecting restaurants, grocery stores, dairy farms, and local food processing companies.
- Local health departments can close restaurants that do not meet sanitation standards and prevent them from reopening until hazards are corrected.
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Description
Learn about the agencies responsible for regulating and monitoring food production and distribution in the United States, ensuring a safe food supply.