Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Practice Exam

What is considered the largest reform of food safety in the US and when did it occur?

1. HACCP in 2011

2. FSMA in 2011

3. FSMA in 2001

4. HACCP in 2001

The correct answer is: FSMA in 2011

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), enacted in 2011, is recognized as the largest reform of food safety in the United States. This landmark legislation was designed to enhance the safety of the nation’s food supply and addresses the growing concerns around foodborne illnesses. The FSMA shifted the focus from responding to food safety issues to preventing them, thus granting the FDA new authority to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested, and processed. This comprehensive overhaul provides mandates for the development of science-based standards for food safety, including preventive controls for food facilities and produce safety regulations. It also includes provisions for enhancing the FDA’s tools for combating food safety problems, such as establishing mandatory recall authority, and increasing inspections. The other options do not correctly represent the largest reform in food safety. HACCP, while an important framework for ensuring food safety via critical control points, was established earlier and is not considered a reform on the scale of FSMA. The dates mentioned also clarify that FSMA's enactment in 2011 is crucial to understanding its significance in modernizing food safety protocols in the U.S.