The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was established by the Secretary of Agriculture on June 17, 1981, pursuant to authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 301 and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 (5 U.S.C. app.). FSIS is responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged.
Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Federal meat and poultry inspection is mandatory for cattle, calves, swine, goats, sheep, lambs, horses (and other equines), chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and guineas used for human food. FSIS provides for the inspection of each animal or bird at slaughter and processed products during various stages of production.
FSIS inspects all raw meat and poultry sold in interstate and foreign commerce, including imported products. It monitors meat and poultry products after they leave federally inspected plants. FSIS tests samples of egg products and meat and poultry products for microbial and chemical contaminants to monitor trends for enforcement purposes.
FSIS provides inspection at Federal facilities for meat, poultry, and egg products, as well as voluntary inspection for animals not covered under mandatory inspection regulations such as buffalo, rabbit, and deer. It monitors meat and poultry products in storage, distribution, and retail channels; and takes necessary compliance actions to protect the public, including detention of products, voluntary product recalls, court-ordered seizures of products, administrative withdrawal of inspection, and referral for criminal prosecution. FSIS also monitors state inspection programs which inspect meat and poultry products sold only within the state in which they were produced.
FAQs
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that United States' commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged.
What are the 3 federal agencies with a role in Food Safety? ›
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) serve important roles in ensuring food safety in the United States.
What is the U.S. agency responsible for Food Safety? ›
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA is charged with protecting consumers against impure, unsafe, and fraudulently labeled products. FDA, through its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), regulates foods other than the meat, poultry, and egg products regulated by FSIS.
Which government agency inspects foodservice operations? ›
Foods that are used in a restaurant or food service operation within the U.S. are regulated by the FDA. In general, the FDA has authority over restaurants and regulates food establishments, including: Food service businesses (e.g., restaurants and retail food stores) Vending machine operations.
Which organization is responsible for inspecting food? ›
Thus, the FDA is responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of the majority of food items, including processed foods, fresh produce, dairy products, and seafood. They carry out inspections, enforce laws, and keep an eye on food safety and labelling requirements.
Who are the 4 regulators of food safety in America? ›
Four agencies play major roles in carrying out food safety regulatory activities: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA); the Environmental Protection Agency ( ...
What is the difference between the FDA and the USDA? ›
The FDA sets the rules for almost all the foods we eat. The USDA sets the rules for meat products, poultry products, and egg products. All foods labeled gluten-free are fine for you to eat.
Which agency enforces food safety in a restaurant or food service operation? ›
While the FDA is the primary agency responsible for enforcing food safety in restaurants at the federal level, it often works in collaboration with state, county, and local health departments. These local agencies also have authority in inspecting and enforcing food safety regulations within their jurisdictions.
Which agency is responsible for inspecting individual restaurants? ›
Federal responsibility for food safety rests primarily with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
What does the USDA regulate? ›
USDA regulations provide official marketing standards for grains and oilseeds, and require that exported grains and oilseeds be officially weighed and inspected. The Department's laws also regulate the slaughter and manufacture of meat products.
To prevent outbreaks from contaminated food, the L.A. County Department of Public Health aims to inspect “high-risk” food facilities — typically those with full-service kitchens handling raw meat — three times a year, according to department procedures reviewed by The Times.
Which government agency investigates complaints and illnesses against a food service operation? ›
The local environmental health department (EHD) is responsible for the initial investigation of consumer complaints regarding foods served or sold at retail food facilities (e.g. restaurants, food trucks, cafés, etc.). To file a consumer complaint regarding a retail food facility, click here to contact the EHD (PDF).
Who inspects food service facilities regularly? ›
The health department in your state, city, or county inspects retail food service establishments and institutions such as nursing homes. If you'd like more information, you can contact your state health Department. Each state makes its own rules, often based on the Food and Drug Administration's Food Code.
What are the two main agencies responsible for ensuring the safety of the food supply? ›
Tolerances are enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services/Food and Drug Administration (HHS/FDA for most foods, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) for meat, poultry, and some egg products and the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Office of of Pest Management Policy."
What department is above the FDA? ›
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a federal regulatory agency in the Department of Health and Human Services.
What agencies are like the FDA? ›
Regulatory Agencies
- Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) ...
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)* ...
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) ...
- National Science Foundation (NSF) ...
- Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) ...
- Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
The USDA also regulates food that crosses state boundaries or involves more than one state. These agencies assist the FDA, USDA, and state and local health departments.
What is the role of the CDC in food safety? ›
CDC's role in food safety
CDC helps make food safer by: Working with partners to determine the major sources of foodborne illnesses and annual changes in the number of illnesses, investigate multistate foodborne disease outbreaks, and implement systems to better prevent illnesses and detect and stop outbreaks.
Is the FDA a government agency? ›
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a federal regulatory agency in the Department of Health and Human Services.
