Food safety regulations can be categorized into imports, distribution, and food service. The goal is to keep the food supply safe and prevent foodborne illnesses. Regulations may be enforced by multiple agencies and non-compliance can result in fines or closure. Political factors can affect import regulations.
While there are no set rules for differentiating between different types of food safety standards, though there are ways to break them down. Categorizing those regulations according to imports, distribution and food service is one way to do this and will cover many different issues. Regardless of which division in food regulations is involved, the goal of all regulations and laws is the same: to keep the food supply safe and to stop foodborne illnesses. Depending on the division, multiple agencies may have a hand in enforcing food safety issues.
Food safety regulations dealing with imports are among the most common and controversial of all food regulations. Some countries may see certain regulations as another country’s way of unfairly affecting the balance of trade, and so politics has the potential to play these decisions in all directions. For example, while some countries have no problem importing raw milk cheeses, others do. The same is true of GM crops, which have received wide acceptance in the United States but have come under suspicion in Europe and other places around the world. Regulations in this division are usually enforced by a national department of agriculture.
Distribution, which includes processing, is another common place where food safety regulations focus. It’s especially important to stop foodborne illness at this level simply because the potential impact is so great. Food contaminated to this degree could spread across the country, multiple countries, or even the world. If unsafe, a massive recall effort would be required. This is often very expensive and, depending on the disease, could be very dangerous for many people. The regulations include things like food hygiene and measures intended to stop cross-contamination. This is also usually the responsibility of a national department of agriculture.
Food regulations focused on food service will address food handling and food safety standards. This can include cooking meats to a certain heat, or at least giving consumers ample warning if meat isn’t cooked to that heat, making sure salads stay at a certain temperature, and other safety measures. It will also include measures, such as making sure employees practice good hygiene and possibly wear hair nets when preparing food. These regulations will also look at the general cleanliness of a food preparation and serving area. This is usually managed by a state or local health department.
Businesses or restaurants that fail to comply with food safety regulations are likely to be fined and may even be closed until corrective action is taken. Therefore, most of these companies will do whatever it takes to comply with the regulations. Food safety regulations related to importing food may be the only case where a business is totally powerless to do anything about the situation.
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