FDA Seeks Comments on Draft Approach for Designating High-Risk Foods

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a request for comments, scientific data and other information to help the agency develop its process for designating high-risk foods. Required under the Food Safety Modernization Act to designate high-risk foods for which additional recordkeeping requirements are appropriate and necessary in order to “rapidly and effectively track and trace such foods during a foodborne illness outbreak or other event,” FDA specifically seeks information on (i) alternative approaches for identifying high risk foods; (ii) whether the criteria should be weighted equally; (iii) changes in the scoring system; and (iv) how foods should be categorized. Comments will be accepted until April 7, 2014. See Federal Register, February 4, 2014.

Issue 512