Reportable Food Registry System Helps ID Food Safety Problems
August 4, 2010 The reportable food electronic portal speeds identification and investigation of potential health hazards in human food, animal feed, and pet food industries, according to FDA.
Mandated by Congress, the Reportable Food Registry (RFR or the Registry) is a new system that requires manufacturers, processors, packers, and distributors to quickly report to FDA safety problems that are likely to result in serious health consequences.
“The FDA’s new reporting system has already proven itself an invaluable tool to help prevent contaminated food from reaching the public,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael R. Taylor.
A report summarizing the Registry’s first seven months of operation (September 2009 -March 2010) finds that it logged 125 primary reports – initial reports about a safety concern with a food or animal feed (including food ingredients) – and 1,638 subsequent reports from suppliers or recipients of a food or feed for which a primary report had been submitted, from both domestic and foreign sources. These reports help FDA and the food industry locate hazardous foods in the supply chain and prevent them from reaching consumers.
“Industry is increasingly detecting contamination incidents through its own testing, and FDA access to this information permits us to better target our inspection resources and verify that appropriate corrective measures have been taken,” Taylor said. “Ensuring that the American food supply is safe is a top priority of the FDA, and the Reportable Food Registry strengthens our ability to help prevent foodborne illness.”
Under section 1005 of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 that created the RFR, industry must report FDA-regulated foods or feeds that present a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals to the FDA within 24 hours.
If information indicates that a food or feed product may have been intentionally adulterated, the FDA immediately notifies the Department of Homeland Security.
The report, A New Approach to Targeting Inspection Resources and Identifying Patterns of Adulteration: The Reportable Food Registry, can be seen at www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodSafetyPrograms/RFR/ucm200958.htm.
Source: FDA