Who Is Responsible For Keeping Food Safe In Buffalo, New York?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year approximately 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses throughout the United States. Nearly 130,000 of those food poisoning victims are hospitalized and 3,000 suffer fatalities. In addition to numerous state and local health departments, 15 separate federal agencies are tasked with the responsibility of keeping America’s food safe. All of these organizations play vital roles in monitoring foodborne outbreaks and warning the public about unsafe foods. Essentially the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are tasked with most of the federal government’s food safety responsibilities. Foodborne viruses and bacteria are the two greatest threats to our food safety. While food poisoning is preventable with the right preemptive measures, the number of different food products produced and offered to consumers is overwhelming. As such, food producers, distributors, retailers, restaurants and even consumers all bear responsibility for keeping our food safe.

No one should have to suffer physically and emotionally because of another’s negligence. Pursuing a personal injury claim against those responsible for your foodborne illness may be the only way to begin to recover. Every day Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of national food poisoning illness lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. strive to provide the highest level of personal injury service to victims that suffer from foodborne illnesses after being exposed to contaminated food or beverages. Jed Dietrich, Esq., one of the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys' 10 Best Attorneys, possesses the skills and knowledge required to scientifically investigate your food poisoning case and your resulting health problems, and ensure that you are in a position to receive the highest possible recovery for your injuries. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. over $175,000,000.00 to resolve personal injury and illness claims. Contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. for assistance with your claim 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at 716-839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form.

The USDA receives approximately 60 percent of the combined food safety budget and consists of 29 different agencies with almost 100,000 employees. When it comes to food safety, the USDA is responsible for the following:

1. Meat and poultry;
2. Grading of fresh fruit and vegetables;
3. Grading and processing of eggs; and
4. Certifying all organic production.

One of the most important agencies within the USDA for ensuring food safety is the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). FSIS’s mission is to protect the public’s health by ensuring the safety of meat, poultry and processed egg products. FSIS and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) try to detect animal diseases that could adversely impact human health, and work to prevent it from happening. FSIS has over 7,600 veterinarians and inspectors that work in the meatpacking industry. During hours of operation, meat processing plants are required to have at least one federal inspector on the line at all times. Additionally, FSIS is tasked with inspecting all cattle, swine, sheep and other animals throughout slaughtering, meat cutting and further processing. The agency also aims to ensure that strategies for decreasing the risks of food poisoning are founded on the most advanced science and technology available.

The Food and Drug Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is in charge of ensuring that all domestic and imported food products, except for meats and poultry, are safe. The agency is responsible for 80 percent of the nation’s food supply including fruits, vegetables, milk and seafood. The agency oversees more than 44,000 food manufactures and has around 2,800 food-related staff, including 1,800 inspectors. The increasing number of food imports has been one of the FDA’s most overwhelming challenges. The United States imports around 15 percent of its total food supply. Over 200 countries or territories, including approximately 125,000 different food facilities and farms, supply roughly 94 percent of seafood, 55 percent of fresh fruits, 32 percent of fresh vegetables consumed by Americans consume each year.

Congress passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011, which altered the emphasis of federal regulators from simply reacting to contamination complaints to averting them. As part of the act, the agency has established standards for prevention which are relevant to both foreign and domestic food cultivators, processors, producers, packers and keepers. Further, to develop new food safety standards, FSMA gave the FDA increased supervision and enforcement powers to make sure that the industry complies with the standards. The FDA’s strategy is guided by four key objectives:

1. Ensure that food made available for import fulfills U.S. food safety requirements;
2. Prevent unsafe foods from entering the country through FDA border surveillance;
3. Respond swiftly and effectively to any unsafe imported food; and
4. Run an effective and proficient food import program.

If you, or a loved one, suffered from a foodborne illness, you should contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of national food poisoning illness lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today! We are disciplined, dedicated, and determined to get you the best possible result after your illness and related injuries that you suffered. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week for your free consultation. Call us today at 716-839-3939.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim throughout the United States. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!