The FSMA, or Food Safety Modernization Act, is a critical set of regulations for the FDA, or the Food and Drug Administration, as set down in 2011. It services to shift the industry’s efforts to respond to foodborne illness to actually preventing it. Whether you operate a small cafe or a restaurant in a major franchised chain, it is critical to have a basic understanding of the FMSA and its regulations that directly relate to the safety and success of your business in the food industry.
It is difficult to pin down food safety regulations into just a few categories. It affects everything from the farmers growing produce to brewing the beans for coffee in a local cafe. Everything to do with food must be approached with a firm grasp on food safety regulations. However, you can break down the FSMA and its regulations. These include prevention of microbial contamination, prevention and reduction foodborne illness. The regulations set down by the FSMA apply to both human and animal food. After millions of cases of foodborne illnesses affecting humans and animals in the early 2000s, these are critical.
Rules are found under three categories: food traceability, preventative controls, and sanitary transportation. And, of course, there are several that a person in the food industry should be aware of as they conduct business. For example, proper food cooking temperature is critical. There are regulations set down to cook meat at specific temperatures to ensure it is safe to eat. Also be on the lookout for important sanitation measures. For example, do not keep cooked meat near raw meat as it can cause serious help problems.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of other issues that may crop up, and some of them are caused by external contamination. Insects, primarily mice, cockroaches, and rats for those in the food industry, can wreak havoc on your business’s cleanliness. A simple solution to these frequent pests is to schedule commercial food safety pest control in Medford on a monthly basis. Also, make sure your employees do not come into work while sick, always wash their hands, and use gloves and hair nets to avoid direct contamination.
Whether you plan to go into the food industry or operating a thriving business in the industry, educate yourself on the ins and outs of all FSMA food safety regulations.
