DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

As recently reported by All Headline News: "With the recent onset of numerous outbreaks of potential and significant health risks associated with contaminated food products, the Food and Drug Administration has begun a pilot program to better educate consumers about recalled food products.

The program will last for the next six months, with a possible extension for the evaluation period at the end of the six months.

The FDA intends to provide consumers with a photograph of the principal food product that is under investigation or has been recalled through the program. The addition of photographs will further help consumers identify the potential health-risk related food product.

This proactive approach is just one of several measures that the FDA is planning to help consumers become better educated and to improve public health and food safety awareness.

The FDA provides information on significant food risks that may possibly be contaminated with dangerous microorganisms. These include (but are not limited to) the following: salmonella, E. Coli, listeria and allergens.

The products involved in this program will include potentially dangerous class I food products. The class I product recalls exist when there is a probable exposure to a food product that can cause serious harmful risks to human health, including potential death.

All product recalls are not included in the pilot program. Class II food products may fall into the FDA's reports, but anything in the Class III category will not be covered by this program.

In 2006, the FDA reports there were more than 100 class I recalls on food products, with an average of 188 class I food recalls during the last five-year period.

The FDA is in agreement with both consumers and consumer group advocates in that the addition of photographs may benefit consumers by allowing a visual identification of the recalled food products through this pilot program.

At the end of the six-month period, the FDA will evaluate whether or not the program was effective. Industry and consumer feedback will help the FDA decide whether or not to continue this format. Therefore, comments are strongly encouraged from the food industry and public consumers by e-mail to the FDA at pilotphotofoods@fda.hhs.gov.

If this program if found to be successful, with a heavy weight being based on the responses that the FDA receives, the program will be considered as a complimentary enhanced benefit for the future."