(Sparta Systems: Holmdel, NJ) – On Jan. 4, President Obama signed into law one of the most comprehensive changes to U.S. food safety since the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Food Safety Modernization Act gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and related government agencies the authority to develop and enforce more stringent standards and more severe penalties for food manufacturers not in compliance with new regulations.

Across the industry, organizations can expect the upcoming changes to food safety standards to result in more frequent on-site audits and more rigorous testing requirements for food manufacturers, expanded authority for the FDA to initiate product recall, additional records required in safety data collection, and stronger industrywide safety standards.

Sparta Systems’ team of quality experts advises food manufacturers to proactively evaluate their quality and compliance processes in preparation for upcoming changes. The following are best practices for ensuring the safety of products delivered to consumers and for responding to quality incidents in a timely fashion:

 …