Ensuring Food Supply Safety

FDA is the HHS agency responsible for ensuring the safety of roughly 80 percent of the U.S. food supply, including whole shell eggs, seafood, milk, grain products, and fruits and vegetables.

• FDA has reported that limited resources and authorities significantly challenge its efforts to carry out food safety responsibilities. For example, our work has shown that while FDA has considered fresh-produce safety a priority for many years, the agency has had to delay key safety activities because of resource constraints.
  Highlights of GAO-08-1047 (PDF)
• Similarly, FDA’s oversight and enforcement efforts have not kept pace with the growing number of food firms. In 2007, the United States imported food from tens of thousands of foreign food firms in more than 150 countries, yet FDA inspected only 96 firms in 11 countries.
  Highlights of GAO-08-597 (PDF)
• In addition, FDA has limited assurance that companies comply with food labeling requirements, such as those prohibiting false and misleading labeling.
  Highlights of GAO-08-597 (PDF)
• FDA released its Food Protection Plan, which sets a framework for food safety oversight. While FDA’s plan proposes some positive first steps, including requesting several new authorities, GAO found that the plan lacks specific information about its strategies and the resources needed that can help Congress and others assess the likelihood of its success.
  Highlights of GAO-08-435T (PDF)

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

To enhance the oversight of food safety, FDA should

• provide specific information to Congress and to the public on the strategies and resources for implementing the Food Protection Plan and post on its public Web site periodic updates on the status of implementing the Food Protection Plan,
  Highlights of GAO-08-597 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-1047 (PDF)
• ensure that labeling managers have the information they need to oversee compliance with food-labeling statutes and regulations, and
  Highlights of GAO-08-597 (PDF)
• ensure that the public has timely access to information on food-labeling violations that may have serious health consequences.
  Highlights of GAO-08-597 (PDF)

^ Back to topKey Reports

Food and Drug Administration

Food Irradiation

Food Safety

Seafood Fraud

Veterinarian Workforce

Food Labeling

Food Safety

Food Safety

Federal Oversight of Food Safety

More Reports