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What are Food Safety Standards?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Food safety standards refer to regulations and laws created by a number of agencies to try to ensure that consumers have access to safe food that is free of dangerous or diseased substances. Throughout the world, there are numerous agencies given this task, and others that have the job of making sure such standards are enforced. In Europe, for instance, one of the most influential bodies in creating food safety standards is the World Health Organization. In the US, regulations may be created and/or enforced by a number of separate groups include the US Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and smaller regional or state groups.

The various food safety standards that may exist can cover a many different areas. They could apply to how food is transported or refrigerated. They might cover food handling, labeling, or mixing of foods. Usually addressed are things like how and when to inspect for contaminants of chemical or bacterial nature, and under what circumstances food is not safe and must be discarded.

Using proper methods to defrost meat is important for food safety.
Using proper methods to defrost meat is important for food safety.

As previously stated, the goal of all of these laws, and there are many of them, is to ensure that people buy safe food. Yet it’s very clear that the purposeful violation of food and safety standards and regulations don’t always address certain things. In late 2009, the New York Times published an extensive piece regarding how easy it was, given present laws, to miss the bacteria e. coli in ground beef. Such exposés and repeated cases of food poisoning in the US and Europe call to attention the loopholes that exist in food safety standards.

A Salmonella bacterium, a common cause of food poisoning.
A Salmonella bacterium, a common cause of food poisoning.

These loopholes may also exist when inspection is shared by more than one agency, or alternately when additional laws regarding protected naming food must be honored. At the state level, for example, food inspectors must make sure that food is safe and consumable, posing no hazard to the consumer and that it meets all requirements to be labeled in a certain way. Knowing the definition of things like “organic,” “natural” and other words may mean rigidly following specific legislation.

A chef wearing gloves for food sanitation safety.
A chef wearing gloves for food sanitation safety.

It is undoubtedly true that for food producers, meeting food safety standards can be an onerous task. On the other hand, selling unsafe food creates risk to the consumer and makes the company liable. The company that sickens, permanently injures or kills people due to ignorance or disregard of the law or failure of inspection is likely to suffer economically, often for a long time. Still, compliance with all standards is very complicated, and companies must ensure that all employees are trained in existing rules and regulations.

Moldy vegetables can cause food poisoning and should be discarded immediately.
Moldy vegetables can cause food poisoning and should be discarded immediately.

Sometimes food safety standards can apply to the way consumers use food or they may be implemented so that consumers remain knowledgeable. In the late 2000s, the US started a new alert system so people would have easier access to finding out when contamination outbreaks occur and if food they purchased might be contaminated. Also, many inspection agencies give safe food handling and cooking instructions so people will not accidentally sicken themselves at home via improper food preparations techniques.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon219828

what is the importance of hygiene in the catering industry?

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    • Using proper methods to defrost meat is important for food safety.
      By: ra3rn
      Using proper methods to defrost meat is important for food safety.
    • A Salmonella bacterium, a common cause of food poisoning.
      By: Lyuba Bunakova
      A Salmonella bacterium, a common cause of food poisoning.
    • A chef wearing gloves for food sanitation safety.
      By: Mat Hayward
      A chef wearing gloves for food sanitation safety.
    • Moldy vegetables can cause food poisoning and should be discarded immediately.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Moldy vegetables can cause food poisoning and should be discarded immediately.
    • One of the chief differences between "organic" and "natural" lies in how the local government defines those terms.
      By: contrastwerkstatt
      One of the chief differences between "organic" and "natural" lies in how the local government defines those terms.
    • Canned goods need to be properly sealed to prevent bacteria from getting in.
      By: Николай Григорьев
      Canned goods need to be properly sealed to prevent bacteria from getting in.
    • Food served in buffets must meet certain temperature standards to be considered safe.
      By: sattriani
      Food served in buffets must meet certain temperature standards to be considered safe.
    • Food safety standards are in place to prevent food poisoning.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Food safety standards are in place to prevent food poisoning.