June 23, 2010

A recent Institute of Medicine and National Research Council report, "Enhancing Food Safety: The Role of the Food and Drug Administration" aims to help the FDA achieve a comprehensive vision for proactively protecting against threats to the nation's food supply.

The report recommends the FDA focus on preventing outbreaks in the riskiest foods rather than tackling problems on a case-by-case basis. This could be achieved through a risk-based approach that uses data and expertise to pinpoint where along the production, distribution, and handling chains there is the greatest potential for contamination and other problems.  

Noting that the FDA lacks sufficient resources, the report outlines several organizational steps the agency should take to improve its efficiency, such as increasing coordination with state and other federal agencies that share responsibility for protecting the nation's food supply. Also, the federal government should establish a centralized food safety data center outside of the regulatory agencies to collect information and conduct rapid, sophisticated assessments of food safety risks and appropriate policy interventions. The report noted that this center would serve as an intermediate step toward consolidating food safety activities within a single agency, which many individuals and organizations have recommended. 

The Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council are part of the National Academies, an independent organization chartered by Congress to advise the government on scientific matters.  The report was requested by Congress and sponsored by the FDA. 

Full article.