The current approach to food safety in the United States is facing scrutiny over the lack of premarket approval for food products. Recent discussions have highlighted contradictions within the Department of Health and Human Services regarding how industry exceptions are handled.
According to Food Safety News, there are concerns that the reliance on recalls is an insufficient safety net. The publication suggests that a recall is not evidence of a working system, but rather a notification that a failure has already occurred.
Critics argue that framing a high volume of recalls as a positive indicator of FDA vigilance is an insult to the consumers affected by contaminated products.