IOM and NRC Undertake Review of FDA’s Food Safety System; Legislative and Regulatory Recommendations Expected

By Ricardo Carvajal – 

The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine and the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the National Research Council have established an ad hoc committee to examine FDA’s oversight of food safety and make recommendations to fill “gaps in public health protection.”  The committee plans to evaluate FDA’s Food Protection Plan in the context of prior IOM and Government Accountability Office reports, and issue its report in February 2010.  The report is expected to include recommendations for new regulatory and statutory authorities.  The next public meeting of the committee is scheduled for March 24.