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Are Imported Foods Safe? | Government Regulations
Different Processes, Same Results | The U.S. Food Industry's Part
More Information
| Americans enjoy the world’s safest and most varied food supply— which comes from all over the world. From North African dates to Brazilian palm hearts, your local grocer sells hundreds of products that are grown, processed, and/or packaged outside of the United States. |
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| Are Imported Foods Safe? |
| All imported food products must meet the same stringent standards as domestic products. They must be safe, wholesome, and grown and processed in sanitary conditions. Also, foods cannot be adulterated—that means if the label says “100% guava juice,” the content must be 100 percent guava juice (and not 50 percent guava/50 percent pear juice). |
| Government Regulations |
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Two federal agencies oversee food imports. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates most foods, except meat and poultry. Companies wishing to import to the United States must file a notice with the U.S. Customs Service, which forwards the paperwork to FDA. After review, FDA may analyze product samples to ensure that the food meets health, safety, and labeling standards.
Some foods require special processing for safety. Companies that export these foods must comply with strict FDA rules. Importers of low-acid canned foods (for example, green beans or mushrooms) must submit facility and processing information for FDA’s review. Companies that import milk and cream products require a special permit.
FDA also can remove imported food products from the market if the agency suspects tampering.
Like FDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that all imported foods meet strict safety, wholesomeness, and labeling standards. Foreign countries must complete a two-step process before their processors may import meat products. First, the country must be FSIS certified. This means that USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
has determined that the country’s inspection procedures and regulatory standards are equivalent to those in the United States. Second, the exporting country must certify that the importing company follows processing and safety standards comparable to U.S. standards. |
| Different Processes, Same Results |
| Food processing methods vary. A company in France may configure its assembly lines differently or call its inspection program by a name other than that used in Japan or Canada. Yet, despite differences, each company is responsible for producing safe food. In food processing, it is the outcome (a safe, wholesome, nutritious product) that counts! |
| The U.S. Food Industry’s Part |
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The U.S. food processing industry plays a crucial role in keeping imported foods safe. U.S. food processors conduct onsite audits of their overseas trading partners’ facilities and provide training. Representatives from U.S. food companies and the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) take part in Codex Alimentarius (a global organization that develops food safety codes and international standards).
Consumer safety and satisfaction are the U.S. food industry’s top priorities. NFPA and its Members have urged the federal government to adopt the following recommendations to ensure imported food safety:
- Do not allow imported foods rejected at one port to be sold at other ports.
- Destroy all imported foods that may be unsafe.
- Focus on individual product safety, not on country of origin.
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| More Information |
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www.nfpa-food.org
(National Food Processors Association)
www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/fs-impor.html
(FDA/USDA Presidential Initiative on the Safety of Imported Foods)
www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/programs/import.htm
(USDA/FSIS)
www.fao.org/docrep/w9114e/w9114e00.htm
(Codex Alimentarius) |
Developed by the National Food Processors Association • www.nfpa-food.org |
