Chapter 1: The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
What is the Food Safety Modernization Act aka FSMA?
Food Safety Modernization ActThe 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) changed the nation’s food safety system, shifting the focus from responding to foodborne illness to preventing food borne illnesses. The driving force for this change was the Listeria outbreak in cantaloupe from Holly, CO. Watch this short newsclip to learn more about the devastating public health incident.
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Public HealthCongress passed the FSMA as a result of the interconnected global food system and our increased understanding of foodborne illnesses and their consequences. This included the realization that preventable foodborne illness is both a significant public health problem and a threat to the economic well-being of the food system. |
For this learning activity, flip each of the cards to read more about the major steps that led to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration’s 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act.
Before moving on to the next topic, answer this review question covering the FSMA by selecting the correct answer.
Regulatory Information
Building the FSMA Training Network
There are several Regional Centers. These Centers are a partnership between the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the FDA. These Centers are to provide food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance.
Two main centers are Cornell University (for Produce Safety Rule) and Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).
IIT formed the FSPCA (Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance) for Preventive Controls for Human Food and Preventive Controls for Animal Food. FSPCA and Cornell developed standardized training for each of their respective portions of the FSMA regulations. FSPCA also coordinates the training for Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), and the Intentional Adulteration (IA rule).
Where We Are Now
FSMA emphasizes the need for training to prevent foodborne illnesses. Below are some of the alliances created to enhance and educate food producers.
Food Safety Alliances
Since the enactment of FSMA, many new alliances have formed to spread the word and improve the work of food producers. Click through each below to look at three examples of these food safety alliances.
Let’s quickly review the roles of the Alliances. Work through this question.
Key Takeaways
Type your key takeaways here.
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Next, continue to Chapter 2 to learn more about Preventive Controls and Good Manufacturing Processes.
Means those risk-based, reasonably appropriate procedures, practices, and processes that a person knowledgeable about the safe manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding of food would employ to significantly minimize or prevent the hazards identified under the hazard analysis that are consistent with the current scientific understanding of safe food manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding at the time of the analysis.