Tuesday, November 20, 2007

USDA Inspects Open Sandwiches, FDA Inspects Closed Sandwiches

From the Government Accountability Office, February 2007:
"USDA inspects manufacturers of packaged open-face meat or poultry sandwiches (e.g., those with one slice of bread), but FDA inspects manufacturers of packaged closed-face meat or poultry sandwiches (e.g., those with two slices of bread)."
- Federal Oversight Of Food Safety: High-Risk Designation Can Bring Needed Attention To Fragmented System
A follow-up thought from my last post:

Why does the FDA, who inspects closed-face sandwiches, feel they can do a better job ensuring consumer safety with recall authority ... yet the USDA, who inspects open-face sandwiches, feel they can do a better job ensuring consumer safety without recall authority?

Someone really needs to coordinate the activities of these agencies.
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