US Food and Beverage Regulation

Two regulatory bodies oversee food and beverage safety in the United States. Eighty percent of the food supply is governed by the Federal Drug Administration which safeguards against food adulteration (contamination) and food labeling (misbranding). The United States Department of Agriculture accounts for the other twenty percent and oversees meat, poultry, eggs and items made from these products. In light of recent food recalls including a salmonella peanut butter outbreak in 2009 and salmonella egg outbreak in 2010, in January 2011 The Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law. The legislation gives the FDA more authority to test and recall suspected contaminated foods and beverages.