Legislation passed by Congress in September contains food safety provisions requiring the Food and Drug Administration to set ingredient and processing standards for pet food. The new law, which applies also to human food, establishes an early warning system to alert the public about unsafe pet food.

Congress directed the FDA to improve communication with the public, companies, and professional organizations during recalls, including the posting of information and a searchable, user-friendly recall list on the agency’s Web site. A reportable food registry must be set up so the FDA can issue alerts about foods that could harm people or animals. The agency is to provide more detailed reports to Congress on food inspections as well.

Under the new law, state and federal authorities must work together to improve food safety programs. Food companies are obligated to quickly report contaminations of their product after determining there is a problem and to make records available so contaminated foods can be traced without delay.

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