FDA JEOPARDIZES FOOD SAFETY

Putting the U.S. food supply at risk, the Food and Drug Administration has generally failed to promptly initiate recalls, allowed some food companies to continue shipping despite failed inspections and often ignored its own procedures.

That’s the conclusion of the FDA’s Office of Inspector General in a new report, based on a year-long evaluation of study of 17 food recalls from 2007 to 2008. The study included a variety of food recalls, including those involving cheese, mussel meat, fish and four separate recalls of fresh cantaloupes from Honduras.

The inspector general’s office directed the FDA to review the report as it implements the Food Safety Modernization Act.

The FDA, the produce industry and other food companies need to improve recall practices, said Dave Gombas, senior vice president for food safety and technology at the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association.

“Because food recalls are such a rare event, most companies aren’t prepared to do an effective recall,” Gombas said. “It is a weakness for both FDA and food facilities.”
Source: The Packer