FDA Toughens Its Control Over Potentially Harmful Food Products

The U.S. FDA has issued food safety regulations that delete a requirement for hard evidence that a food product presents a health threat before it can be kept from the marketplace. The stronger final rules allow the FDA to detain food if it “believes” it is adulterated or misbranded. The agency can prevent the products from reaching the marketplace for up to 30 days while officials determine if further enforcement action, such as seizure, is required. The rules implement sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The act was signed into law by President Obama in January 2011.