FOOD PROTECTION AND SAFETY -- FOOD PROTECTION AND SAFETY -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- FOOD PROTECTION PLANAN INTEGRATED STRATEGY FOR PROTECTINGTHE NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY -- AMESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER -- I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -- II. INTRODUCTION -- Scope of the Food Protection Plan -- III. CHANGES AND CHALLENGES -- Trends in Demographics and Consumption -- Shifting Demographics -- Convenience Trends -- Consumption Patterns -- Global Food Supply -- New Threats -- Communication -- IV. AN OVERVIEW OF THE APPROACH -- Core Elements -- Cross-Cutting Principles -- 1. Focus on Risks over a Product's Life Cycle from Production toConsumption -- 2. Target Resources to Achieve Maximum Risk Reduction -- 3. Address Both Unintentional and Deliberate Contamination -- 4. Use Science and Modern Technology Systems -- V. THE INTEGRATED PLAN -- Core Element #1: Prevention -- Why These Actions are Important and What They Will Accomplish -- 1.2. Identify Food Vulnerabilities and as Asess Risks -- 1.3 Expand the Understanding and Use of Effective MitigationMeasures -- Core Element #2: Intervention -- 2.1. Focus Inspections and Sampling Based on Risk -- Additional Legislative Authority Needed -- Why these Actions are Important and what they will Accomplish -- 2.2. Enhance Risk-Based Surveillance -- Additional Legislative Authority Needed -- Why these Actions are Important and what they will Accomplish -- 2.3 Improve the Detection of Food System "Signals" that IndicateContamination -- Why these Actions are Important and what they will Accomplish -- Core Element #3: Response -- Improve Immediate Response -- Additional Legislative Authority Needed -- 3.2. Improve Risk Communications to the Public, Industry, andother Stakeholders -- Why these Actions are Important and what they will Accomplish -- VI. ENHANCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY -- VII. CONCLUSION -- REFERENCES.

FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF FOOD SAFETY.FDA'S FOOD PROTECTION PLANPROPOSES POSITIVE FIRSTSTEPS, BUT CAPACITY TO CARRYTHEM OUT IS CRITICAL∗ -- WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: -- FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF FOOD SAFETYIS A HIGHRISKAREA THAT NEEDS A GOVERNMENTWIDEREEXAMINATION -- FDA HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER LEVERAGE ITSRESOURCES -- FDA'S FOOD PROTECTION PLAN PROPOSES SOME POSITIVEFIRST STEPS, BUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THEPLAN'S STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES WOULD FACILITATECONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT -- TOOLS THAT AGENCIES CAN USE TO ADDRESSMANAGEMENT CHALLENGES -- CONTACT AND STAFF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- REFERENCES -- FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF FOOD SAFETY. FDAHAS PROVIDED FEW DETAILS ON THERESOURCES AND STRATEGIES NEEDED TOIMPLEMENT ITS FOOD PROTECTION PLAN∗ -- WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: -- FDA HAS ADDED FEW DETAILS ON THE RESOURCES ANDSTRATEGIES REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT ITS FOODPROTECTION PLAN -- FDA'S PROPOSAL TO FOCUS INSPECTIONS BASED ON RISKCAN HELP TARGET SCARCE RESOURCES -- GAO HAS ISSUED RECOMMENDATIONS INTENDED TO HELPLEVERAGE RESOURCES AND IMPROVE OPERATIONS, BUTFDA HAS IMPLEMENTED FEW OF THEM -- REFERENCES -- THE FEDERAL FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM:APRIMER∗ -- ABSTRACT -- BACKGROUND -- THE AGENCIES AND THEIR ROLES -- Food and Drug Administration -- Food Safety and Inspection Service -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS) -- National Marine Fisheries Service (DOC) -- Environmental Protection Agency -- Other Federal Agencies with Food Safety Responsibilities -- Congressional Committees -- REORGANIZATION OF THE FEDERAL FOOD SAFETYREGULATORY STRUCTURE -- REFERENCES -- PRODUCE SAFETY FROM PRODUCTION TOCONSUMPTION: 2004ACTION PLAN TOMINIMIZE FOODBORNE ILLNESSASSOCIATED WITH FRESH PRODUCECONSUMPTION* -- BACKGROUND -- The Challenge of Foodborne Illness:.

Goal and Objectives of the Produce Safety Action Plan (ActionPlan): -- Scope of the Action Plan: -- Measuring the Success of the Action Plan: -- OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION PLAN -- Objective 1. Prevent Contamination of Fresh Produce withPathogens -- Guidance and Regulations -- Education Outreach -- Facilitating Implementation -- OBJECTIVE 2.MINIMIZE THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTWHEN CONTAMINATION OF FRESH PRODUCE OCCURS -- OBJECTIVE 3. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITHPRODUCERS, PACKERS, PROCESSORS, TRANSPORTERS,DISTRIBUTORS, PREPARERS,CONSUMERS, AND OTHERGOVERNMENT ENTITIES ABOUT FRESH PRODUCE -- OBJECTIVE 4. FACILITATE AND SUPPORT RESEARCHRELEVANT TO THE CONTAMINATION OF FRESH PRODUCE -- FDAFOOD PROTECTION PLAN SIX-MONTHPROGRESS SUMMARY* -- OVERVIEW -- Prevention -- Intervention -- Response -- Prevention -- 1.1 Promote Increased Corporate Responsibility to PreventFoodborne Illness -- Looking Ahead -- Looking Ahead -- Looking Ahead -- Looking Ahead -- 1.2. Identify Food Vulnerabilities and Assess Risks -- Looking Ahead -- Looking Ahead -- 1.3. Expand the Understanding and Use of Effective MitigationMeasures -- Looking Ahead -- Intervention -- 2.1. Focus Inspection and Sampling based on Risk -- Looking Ahead -- Looking Ahead -- 2.2. Enhance Risk-Based Surveillance of Imported Foods at theBorder -- 2.3. Improve the Detection of Food Systems "Signals" that IndicateContamination -- Looking Ahead -- RESPONSE -- 3.1. Improve Immediate Response -- Looking Ahead -- Looking Ahead -- 3.2. Improve Risk Communications to the Public, Industry, andOther Stakeholders -- CONCLUSION -- FOOD PROTECTION PLAN: QUESTIONSAND ANSWERS* -- Why did the FDA develop a food protection plan? -- Why is the FDA Issuing its Own Food Safety Plan? Isn't FoodSafety Part of The Import Safety Action Plan? -- What Strategy Does the Food Protection Plan Propose to BetterProtect the U.S. Food Supply?.

What New Legislation Does the Food Protection Plan Recommend? -- Prevention -- Intervention -- Response -- What Changes will the FDA Implement to Better Protect Our FoodSupply? -- Prevention: -- Intervention -- Response -- Are there More Food-Borne Illnesses Today thanthere were in thePast? -- What are the Common Symptoms of Food-Borne Illnesses? -- How Soon will the FDA Start Implementing the Food ProtectionPlan? -- Why is FDA Requesting Authority to Require MandatoryPreventive Controls for Intentional Contamination Now? -- Will FDA be Able to Prevent Food-Borne Illnesses With this Plan? -- How can FDA Determine the Food Areas at Greatest Risk? -- When it Comes to Imported Foods, How Will the FDA Focus on'Prevention?' -- How will the FDA Intervene to Eliminate Risks in the U.S. FoodSupply? -- As Part of its Risk-Based Intervention, what Action is FDAPlanning to Take Against Companies that Do not ImplementPreventive Controls? -- How Does the FDA Receive Word of a Potential Problem? -- How Does FDA Plan to Improve Response Time to the Consumerswhen there is an Outbreak or Recall? -- What is the FDA Doing to Improve the Communication Amongother Federal and State Agencies to Ensure the Safety of U.S. FoodProducts? -- What are Some of the New Scientific Advances that will be Used toImprove Response Time in Handling Food-Borne Illnesses? -- What Role will Other Agencies Have in Protecting the Food Supply(USDA FSIS, CDC, NOAA, Etc.)? -- Is FDA Asking for Authority to Require that a Stamp of Approvalbe Placed on All Imported Products? -- How will the Proposed New Authorities Extend FDA's Presence onFarms? -- SALMONELLOSIS OUTBREAK FROMCERTAIN TOMATOES. QUESTIONS ANDANSWERS FOR CONSUMERS AND INDUSTRY* -- CONSUMER INFORMATION AND ADVICE -- ADVICE FOR FOOD-SERVICE PROVIDERS, RESTAURATEURS,AND RETAILERS -- ABOUT OUTBREAKS.

GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES RELATEDTO PRODUCE SAFETY -- CONSUMER INFORMATION AND ADVICE -- What States Have Confirmed Cases of Salmonella Illness Linked tothis Outbreak? -- How Many People Have Become Ill in this Outbreak? -- What Kind of Illness Does Salmonella Cause? -- What is Salmonella? -- What Kinds of Raw Tomatoes Should be Avoided During thisOutbreak? -- What Kinds of Raw Tomatoes should Consumers Continue to BuyDuring this Outbreak? -- What States or Countries Have been Ruled out as the Source ofThis Outbreak? -- How Can Consumers Tell where a Tomato Was Grown, Harvested,or Packed? -- Will Washing the Tomatoes Identified in this Outbreak Make themSafe to Eat? -- Will Peeling the Tomatoes Implicated in this Outbreak Make themSafe to Eat? -- Can Cooking Tomatoes Eliminate Salmonella? -- Are Canned Tomatoes and Processed Foods Containing TomatoesSafe for Consumers During this Outbreak? -- Are Tomatoes from Farmers' Markets Included in this Outbreak? -- During this Outbreak, is it Safer to Eat Locally Grown Tomatoes? -- What Steps are Being Taken to Prevent Future Illness From thisOutbreak? -- How should Consumers Handle Raw Tomatoes NOT Associatedwith the Outbreak? -- Where can Consumers Find out More about How to Keep FromBecoming Sick from Tomatoes? -- What is the FDA's Advice to Retailers, Restaurateurs, and FoodService Providers? -- What Kinds of Tomatoes May be Offered to Customers? -- What Safe-Handling Practicesshould be Followed for Tomatoes? -- Should Food-Service Providers, Restaurateurs, and Retailers Cookthe Tomatoes Associated with the Outbreak to EliminateSalmonella? -- Should Food-Service Providers, Restaurateurs, and Retailers try toRemove Salmonella by Washing the Tomatoes Associated with theSalmonella Outbreak? -- ABOUT OUTBREAKS -- What is an Outbreak? -- When did the Illnesses Associated with the Current OutbreakStart?.

How is the Cause or Source of aSalmonella Outbreak Determined?.