20 Years in Food Safety: A Look Back and Beyond

2005 – ISO 22000 management standard

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) promulgates ISO 22000, addressing food safety management to help facilities identify and control safety hazards. The standard stresses interactive communication, systems management, and HACCP principles. It emphasizes a combined effort of all parties in the food chain is needed since hazards can occur at any point.

“When ISO 22000 came out, that was a milestone, not just in seafood but foods in general,” says Wilson. “It was the first time a private management standard for food safety was internationally recognized. That standard made a number of regulatory agencies sit up and take notice. Also, it made differences in ISO’s way of thinking. At that time they had quality management in ISO 9001, environmental management in ISO 14001, and now here was a new management standard. This was when ISO decided through their business plan to get more involved in management systems.”

Jan. 2006 – Food allergen labeling

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), an amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, requires the labels of foods that contains a “major food allergen” to declare the presence of the allergen.

“FALCPA was the culmination of an increasing awareness of the importance of providing clear and simple information to food-allergic consumers so they can make safe food choices without having to worry about misunderstanding what is on the label or what is in their foods,” says Steven Gendel, food allergen coordinator , FDA.

Aug.-Oct. 2006 – Multi-state E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak in spinach

The outbreak results in 205 confirmed illnesses in 26 states and three deaths, according to the FDA. The CDC reported that 102 people were hospitalized and 31 developed HUS. All spinach implicated in the outbreak was traced to a California firm.

“One thing that really came to light in the 2000s was the risks that are carried on our fresh produce, like fresh leafy greens and fresh vegetables,” comments DeWaal. “Fresh produce is linked to a large number of outbreaks and illnesses in our database, but consumers didn’t really become aware of it until the spinach outbreak in 2006.”

2008 – Melamine in infant formula

China reports melamine contamination in infant formula, causing kidney problems and kidney stones in babies. Melamine was intentionally added to milk to artificially increase the measured protein content.

2008-2009 – Salmonella and peanuts

The Peanut Corp. of America’s (PCA) products were the source in an outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium illnesses that killed nine people and sickened more than 700. The recall prompted by the outbreak involved thousands of products made by more than 300 companies. This February, criminal charges were filed against the former owner and other company employees, charging that they misled customers—not revealing when tests detected Salmonella in products from a plant in Blakely, Ga.

“The PCA scare really had an effect on auditing processes, and that will have an effect on how third parties are accepted by regulatory agencies,” says Wilson. “Those kinds of events have ripples throughout the entire food chain, not just one particular product group.”

May-Nov. 2010 – Outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis in eggs

The CDC identifies a nationwide, sustained increase in cases of Salmonella enteritidis infections uploaded to the PulseNet database. The CDC estimates that approximately 1,939 reported illnesses are likely associated with the outbreak. Epidemiologic investigations pointed to eggs as the source, and a nationwide recall followed. By August, according to a CNN report, the recall included half a billion eggs.

July 2010 – Egg safety regulations

Food safety requirements for egg producers with 50,000 laying hens or more take effect. Among other things, the new rules require producers to adopt preventive control measures and to use refrigeration during egg storage and transportation.