Food Safety Modernization Act

A diagram illustrating the components of safety and compliance in food safety, featuring a thermometer icon and segments labeled: Disposition, Financial Policy, Fleet Planning, Application & Design, Maintain, and Reports & Analysis.
Infographic displaying annual foodborne statistics: 48 million people affected, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths related to foodborne illnesses.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011.  The FSMA vests Federal Department of Agriculture (“FDA”) law enforcement authority in addition to its regulatory authority to achieve higher rates of compliance with prevention and risk-based food safety standards.

The Law focuses on these 6 major mandates:

  • Registration
  • Hazard Analysis & Preventative Controls
  • Verification
  • Inspection & Frequency
  • Record Keeping Requirements
  • Penalties

Food Safety Compliance

Logo of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, featuring the text 'FDA FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT' in blue and purple colors.

The Food Safety Modernization Act supplements existing food safety laws in order to reduce risks to the U.S. food supply. FSMA is a comprehensive top-to-bottom overhaul of the United States food safety regulatory framework and touches every segment of the produce business supply chain from farm-to-fork. FSMA has resulted in major regulations proposed by the FDA affecting how produce is grown, packed, processed, shipped and imported into the U.S. 

PLM’s team consists of FSMA experts who understand the regulations and can offer tools to help our compliance with the new regulations:

  • Food Safety Modernization Act compliance training
  • ColdLink Temperature documentation/ monitoring
  • Electronic data retention
  • Smartway compliant

If the FDA knocked on your door asking for documentation on your compliance, can you produce it in a timely manner?  Check out our compliance check list to see if you are compliant and find out how PLM can help. 

Infographic summarizing the Food Safety Modernization Act compliance requirements, including transportation equipment maintenance, temperature control, reporting procedures, records retention, and training for personnel.

Are you compliant?  Download PLM’s FSMA Compliance Check List.      

Food Safety is not just important for producers, shippers, carriers and distributors.  Consumers need to be informed on what they can do about safe food handling.  The United States Department of Agriculture offers guidelines to consumers on what they can do to ensure proper food handling.   

The content set forth herein is not legal advice.  You are advised to seek appropriate legal advice to determine whether the FSMA is applicable to your company and whether the training offered by PLM will facilitate your company’s compliance with the FSMA in the event the FSMA is applicable to your company.