Food Safety and Quality: Innovative Strategies May Be Needed to Regulate New Food Technologies
RCED-93-142
Published: Jul 26, 1993. Publicly Released: Sep 09, 1993.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on new food technologies, focusing on: (1) types of new technologies; (2) the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) response to new food technologies and the processes it uses to determine whether they protect consumers; and (3) unresolved regulatory issues.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should create a blue ribbon panel to develop a model for inspection and food safety enforcement on the basis of the public health risks posed by food products and processes. As part of the panel's mandate, Congress may wish to direct the panel to review the regulatory framework for food and food ingredients and to explore innovative strategies for regulating new food technologies, such as the creation of an expedited premarket notification system. | Numerous hearings have taken place this year, and proposed legislation is under consideration by Congress to revamp the federal food safety system, including establishing a single food safety agency. However, the Congress has not established a panel, as GAO recommended. |
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
BiotechnologyConsumer protectionContaminated foodsFood additivesFood and drug lawFood industryFood inspectionFood safetyQuality assuranceSafety regulationSafety standards