FDA And The Produce Safety Rule

FDA enforcement of the Produce Safety Rule is coming soon via routine inspections. In the run-up to these inspections, Commissioner Gottlieb highlighted the agency’s efforts to provide training, issue guidance, share technical assistance, and contribute funding to state produce safety systems. While the Produce Safety Rule was “hotly debated,” says Shawn Hogue, a lawyer with K&L Gates in Miami, “there is quantifiable evidence its established mandatory science-based, minimum standards for the safe growing, packing, and harvesting of fruits and vegetables has been effective and will likely be even more effective in the near future.” It remains to be seen how the Produce Safety Rule will play out with the FDA’s forthcoming routine inspections, especially if another government shutdown were to occur. Just this January, the FDA’s routine food safety inspections were curtailed due to the interruption in funds, although some inspections were later restarted even during the shutdown. Let’s hope the FDA’s further implementation of the Produce Safety Rule produces results in ensuring the safety of America’s food supply.