Earlier this month, the FDA proposed new rules regarding food safety.
These rules are key to the preventive food safety approach established by the 2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. It has been almost 2 years since our President Obama has signed them and they still have not been implemented. From what I understand, these new rules will allow the 2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act to finally begin. 
You may remember that this law was signed by President Obama after some very high profile food recalls that had resulted in several deaths. But there were hundreds of foods recalled each year that never make the news. So I am really glad to see stricter guidelines being put into place to prevent outbreaks.
So this is very scary and serious.
But I think one of the most exciting things about these new rules is that the FDA is moving into a position of preventing food-borne illnesses rather than reacting to outbreaks.
The first rule would require domestic and foreign food companies to have a plan in place to prevent food contamination and how to handle food that becomes contaminated. The plans would have to be open and available for audits.
The second rule deals with produce that becomes contaminated during harvesting.
I am not sure yet, what this will mean to the price of foods. New regulation usually carries a heavy cost because there will have to be more committees and other personnel that will monitor and reinforce compliance.
So we will have to stay tune to see how this will fall out.
If you are hot on this topic, the FDA will be hosting a public meeting on February 28 to review the proposed changes. This is your opportunity to voice your opinion or get answers to your questions.
believe this is a result of all the frequent food contamination and recalls we have seen over the last couple of years.
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