Reports Alert FDA to Possible Contamination
A system established in 2007 may have curbed foodborne illness outbreaks.
July 31, 2010— -- Over a seven-month period, manufacturers and distributors have reported 125 food safety issues directly to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, most concerning Salmonella or allergens, the agency said.
One report prompted a recall that resulted in the removal of 177 products from the market, Michael R. Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, told reporters during a telephone press briefing.
"We have prevented contaminated products from reaching consumers," Taylor said.
The reports were sent to the Reportable Food Registry, created when Congress mandated in 2007 that manufacturers, processors, packers, and distributors report to the FDA any potentially harmful safety problems with food and animal feed.
Between September 2009 and March 2010, there were 1,844 reports, 125 of which were primary reports. The rest were either related to initial reports or amendments to those previously submitted.
Most of the primary reports concerned contamination with Salmonella (37 percent) or undeclared allergens or intolerances (35 percent). Listeria monocytogenes accounted for 13 percent.
The products most commonly involved in the reports included animal feed, dairy, seafood, and spices.
A February 2010 report led to a recall of hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), which a manufacturer found to be contaminated with Salmonella after sampling. The product's supplier voluntarily recalled the ingredient, which led to 177 products being removed from the market, and no illnesses have been reported to the FDA.
In November 2009, reports led to a voluntary recall of two nationally distributed prepared side dishes after they were found to contain sulfites. There were no reported illnesses associated with that recall either.
Taylor said that data from the registry is too preliminary to draw inferences about patterns of food and feed adulteration.
He also noted that the FDA isn't sure about how many companies are properly reporting, but "we think we have good rates of compliance."
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