Where Does Our Food Come from?
Where Does Our Food Come From?
I have gotten into the pattern of trusting the safety of any food that is available for purchase but does my blind trust put my health in jeopardy? It seems that having access to safe and healthy food has always been an assumed right as an American, but why? We have all witnessed food recalls, e-coli outbreaks and heard reports on unsafe food processing practices by US companies. Who is 'approving' this food for American consumption and through which process? What are the penalties for infractions and where can the average American access this information in order to make an informed decision about the food they consume?
Formed in 1906, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One of the 6 centers making up the FDA is the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) which works to assure that the food supply is safe, sanitary, wholesome, and honestly labeled. In 1938 the Tugwell bill signed by Teddy Roosevelt, are you sure it was Teddy?! stated that food standards were required to be set up when needed "to promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.” This is still the principal foundation of the CFSAN today (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
The FDA inspects food facilities routinely, often in partnership with state regulatory agencies. The frequency is based on the type of facility, the type of food processed or handled at the facility, and the public health risk associated with the product. If a facility is found to need some corrective actions, follow-up inspections are conducted to review the implementation of the corrections. The FDA does not regulate meat and poultry (except for game meats, such as venison, ostrich and snake) nor is the FDA responsible for restaurants or grocery stores (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
Meat and poultry are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and
I have gotten into the pattern of trusting the safety of any food that is available for purchase but does my blind trust put my health in jeopardy? It seems that having access to safe and healthy food has always been an assumed right as an American, but why? We have all witnessed food recalls, e-coli outbreaks and heard reports on unsafe food processing practices by US companies. Who is 'approving' this food for American consumption and through which process? What are the penalties for infractions and where can the average American access this information in order to make an informed decision about the food they consume?
Formed in 1906, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One of the 6 centers making up the FDA is the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) which works to assure that the food supply is safe, sanitary, wholesome, and honestly labeled. In 1938 the Tugwell bill signed by Teddy Roosevelt, are you sure it was Teddy?! stated that food standards were required to be set up when needed "to promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.” This is still the principal foundation of the CFSAN today (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
The FDA inspects food facilities routinely, often in partnership with state regulatory agencies. The frequency is based on the type of facility, the type of food processed or handled at the facility, and the public health risk associated with the product. If a facility is found to need some corrective actions, follow-up inspections are conducted to review the implementation of the corrections. The FDA does not regulate meat and poultry (except for game meats, such as venison, ostrich and snake) nor is the FDA responsible for restaurants or grocery stores (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
Meat and poultry are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and