Foodborne Illness Prevention
On November 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the finalization of rules relating to the safety of produce and imported foods. The new rules, years in the making, implement key elements of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011, which called for a “comprehensive food safety overhaul.” They also represent the first time that produce farmers and food importers have fallen directly under FDA jurisdiction. The new farm rule sets requirements for water quality; employee health and hygiene; wild and domesticated animals; compost and manure; and equipment, tools, and buildings. Under the importation rule, food importers must…
