The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating foods except for poultry, certain egg products, most livestock feed, and most pet food.
So what does that mean?
It means that the FDA oversees $1 trillion in food sales annually. More than half of all food sales in the United States! The FDA’s jurisdiction also includes inspecting imported foods and some domestic facilities as well as providing guidance on how to keep our food safe.
FDA Is Responsible for Regulating Foods Except for Poultry, Certain Egg Products, Most Livestock Feed, and Most Pet Food
FDA is responsible for regulating foods except for poultry, certain egg products, most livestock feed, and most pet food. As a result of this responsibility, FDA has the authority to regulate:
- The manufacture and processing of foods
- The labeling of food products
- The advertising of food products
Arguably the Biggest Part of FDA’s Food Safety Jurisdiction Is Its Role in Overseeing Foods Made by Manufacturers and Processors
The Food and Drug Administration is also responsible for overseeing the safety of certain foods. Arguably the biggest part of FDA’s food safety jurisdiction is its role in overseeing foods made by manufacturers and processors. This includes meat, poultry, and eggs that are processed at a facility that also processes other animal products such as dairy products or seafood; alcoholic beverages; fruit juices; vegetables (including potatoes); grain-based mixes used to make breads, crackers, and cereals; canned foods; jams and jellies; canned frosting; canned whipped toppings; cake decorations made from vegetable fats (like buttercream); dry bakery fillings used in pies and cakes (such as cookie doughs); cake icing prepared with egg whites or meringue powder.
FDA Oversees $1 Trillion in Food Sales Annually
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the majority of the nation’s food supply, including many things you might not expect to be under FDA jurisdiction. The FDA is responsible for ensuring that foods are safe and properly labeled. It also regulates vitamins, cosmetics and tobacco products.
In short: if it’s on your table or in your medicine cabinet, chances are the FDA has approved it for sale in America.
The FDA estimates that its oversight enables $1 trillion worth of food sales annually — approximately 20% of all retail grocery spending, which is made possible by highly trained scientists who test ingredients from a variety of sources every day to make sure they’re safe for consumption.
The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Brings Food Safety Regulation Into the Future
FSMA has new requirements for food producers to improve food traceability via FSMA Rule 204 to make food recalls easier, quicker, more accurate and more effective.
At FoodReady, we offer food safety software and consulting expertise. Our software can help you comply with the FSMA Rule 204.
The platform also features HACCP plan builder, and allows for the creation of personalized checklists to effectively manage HACCP plans and track ingredients, tasks, and events. With our Enterprise program you will have access to food safety quality assurance professionals who can help you with GFSI, SQF, GMP, SOP, BRC, CGMP, HACCP, USDA, FDA, FSMA Consultant, gap analysis, or prepare for audits like the Costco audit, the Whole Foods audit, Publix audit, Kroger audit, Safeway audit, Meier audit, HEB audit and more.
FAQs
Food manufacturers and processors under FDA jurisdiction must comply with a range of regulatory requirements, including those related to manufacturing practices, food safety standards, labeling, and traceability. They may also be subject to inspections by the FDA to ensure compliance.
The FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those for conventional foods. It oversees the safety of dietary supplements and the truthfulness of label claims, but it does not approve dietary supplements before they go to market as it does with food products and drugs.
The FDA oversees the labeling of genetically modified foods to ensure that any claims made are truthful and not misleading. While the FDA does not require specific labeling for foods produced using genetic engineering, it does encourage voluntary labeling that informs consumers about whether foods have or have not been developed using genetic engineering, provided that such labeling is truthful and not misleading. The FDA also evaluates whether genetically engineered foods meet the same safety standards as traditional breeding methods.
