FDA Issues 2009 FDA Food Code
Updated code is a model for state, city, county, tribal, territorial agencies and industry.
The Food and Drug Administration today announced the publication of the new FDA Food Code, a model code and reference document that provides a scientifically sound technical and legal basis for regulating the retail and food service segment of the food industry. The 2009 FDA Food Code is a key component of the President's overall public-health-focused food safety framework for maintaining a safe food supply.
State, city, county, tribal, and territorial agencies regulate more than 1 million restaurants, retail food stores, and vending and food service operations in institutions such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and child care centers. The model FDA Food Code provides the basis for most of those agencies' licensing, inspection, and enforcement activities, as well as serves as a model for their food statutes, regulations, and ordinances.
Release of the FDA Food Code provides all levels of government with practical, science-based guidance and manageable, enforceable provisions for mitigating known risks of foodborne illness. The FDA Food Code also serves as a reference document for the retail food industry.
"The FDA is spearheading an important initiative to improve the nation's food safety system by establishing a fully integrated national system with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial regulatory agencies," said Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "Food Code adoption and implementation in all jurisdictions are important for achieving uniform national food safety standards and for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of our nation's food safety system."
The 2009 edition of the Food Code is the seventh full edition published by the FDA. The previous full edition was released in 2005 with a supplement published in 2007.
Significant enhancements to the 2009 FDA Food Code include: