A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that nearly 15 years after the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law, the FDA is still struggling to cross the finish line. Despite the 2011 mandate to shift from “reacting” to “preventing” foodborne illness, the agency has yet to fully implement key safety provisions.
The critical gaps:
- Missing Guidance: The FDA hasn’t finalized guidelines to help farmers reduce contamination risks.
- Inspection Failures: The agency is missing mandated targets for both domestic and foreign food safety inspections.
- Traceability Delays: Compliance for the Food Traceability Rule was recently pushed back again to 2028.
- Lack of Data: Perhaps most concerningly, the FDA has not yet assessed whether the nine rules it has implemented are actually making our food safer.
The FDA cited the pandemic, agency reorganization, and staffing cuts as primary hurdles. While HHS has agreed to all seven GAO recommendations for improvement, a clear timeline for full compliance remains elusive.