On October 1, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that a major reorganization of its Human Foods Program is now in effect. The reorganization aims to create a unified, more efficient regulatory structure better able to address the complexities of modern food safety, labeling, and nutrition while increasing transparency and consistency in decision-making.
The core of the restructuring revolves around unifying the previously separate functions of food safety, policy, and nutrition into a more cohesive Human Foods Program. Under the new model, regulatory activities involving food safety standards, enforcement, and compliance will operate more cooperatively across FDA departments. By integrating operations into a unified framework, the FDA expects to improve communication and responsiveness both internally and with external stakeholders, including consumers, the food industry, and public health organizations.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf emphasized that these changes are part of ongoing modernization efforts meant to increase regulatory transparency and consumer confidence in the food system. “We recognize that a unified approach is essential to address the challenges of a complex global food supply. By modernizing our structure and processes, we can more effectively protect public health,” Califf said in the agency’s press announcement.
Other notable updates include new leadership roles to oversee the program and additional efforts to improve coordination with state and local food safety partners. The FDA also indicated that it will be investing in new technologies to facilitate data sharing and risk analysis, which are crucial for responding rapidly to emerging food safety threats.
The FDA has committed to keeping the public and stakeholders updated on the progress of these modernization efforts, with further announcements expected in the coming months.
Recently, the FDA held a meeting to hear from stakeholders about the development of a post-market food chemical assessment program (FPF reported). A public consultation on the post-market assessment program is open until December 6, 2024.
Reference
US FDA (October 1, 2024). “FDA’s unified human foods program: A new model for field operations and other modernization efforts.”
Read more
George G. Misko (October 4, 2024). “A New Day Dawns at FDA with the Establishment of the Human Foods Program.” Keller & Heckman
