FDA Offers New Way for Industry Reporting of Possible Food Poisoning Cases

Food industry officials now have a new, electronic way to alert the Food and Drug Administration about possible cases of salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and other potentially deadly forms of food poisoning.

The FDA has launched the Reportable Food Registry, a place where food manufacturers and handlers can report when they suspect their products might be dangerous due to bacteria, failure to warn about allergens, or chemical contamination. By law, food companies are required to file reports within 24 hours of when they have a reasonable belief that food they produce will cause severe health problems or death to either people or animals.

Only infant formula and dietary supplements are exempted from the FDA reporting law, since those consumer products are regulated by separate rules. Anyone who manufactures, processes, packs, or stores food for either human or animal consumption is covered by the reporting rules.

Swifter Action on Tainted Food Promised

We agree with FDA officials, who say the new reporting requirement is a key part of realizing the pledge by President Barack Obama to improve the safety of the nation’s food supply.

“The opening of the Reportable Food Registry electronic portal represents a significant step toward that pledge,” said Commissioner of Food and Drugs Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.

The FDA has been criticized in the past for being slow to order food recalls. But by using electronic means to allow the food industry to report potential problems in real time, the FDA will be able to more quickly and effectively order recalls of products and reduce consumer injuries and deaths.

“By fostering real-time submission to the FDA of information on food safety hazards, the registry enhances FDA’s ability to act quickly to prevent foodborne illness,” said Michael R. Taylor, senior advisor to the commissioner. “Working with the food industry, we can swiftly remove contaminated products from commerce and keep them out of consumers’ hands.”

Requirements of Responsible Parties

Food manufacturers, processors, and others deemed a responsible party covered by the FDA reporting rules must abide by certain requirements, including:

• They must investigate the cause of the adulteration if the adulteration of food may have originated with the responsible party

• They must submit initial information, followed by supplemental reports

• They must work with the FDA authorities to follow up as needed

Exception to FDA Reporting Rules

There is one sizeable exception to the reporting rules that mean consumers may never know about tainted food that is caught before it leaves the manufacturing or processing facility. Food manufacturers are not required to report to the FDA tainted products that are discovered before the products are shipped, as long as the problem that caused the contamination is corrected and the tainted food is destroyed, the FDA said.

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