The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a supplement to the 2022 Food Code, incorporating recommendations from a diverse group of stakeholders, including regulatory officials, industry representatives, academia, and consumers. This update follows discussions at the 2023 Biennial Meeting of the Conference for Food Protection and aims to provide practical, science-based controls to mitigate the risk of foodborne illnesses in various food service settings.
Key updates in the supplement include new provisions for disinfecting food contact and nonfood-contact surfaces, as well as equipment. It also expands guidelines on the refilling and reuse of containers within food establishments, offering clearer instructions to ensure safety and compliance. Additionally, the supplement introduces measures to enhance food defense awareness, addressing potential vulnerabilities in food protection.
The supplement further develops the concept of Food Safety Management Systems and Active Managerial Control by defining these terms and specifying when such systems are required. This aims to strengthen the framework for managing food safety risks effectively. Updates to testing requirements for reinstating food employees diagnosed with illnesses such as STEC, Shigella, or Nontyphoidal Salmonella now include culture-independent diagnostic tests, reflecting advancements in diagnostic technology.
