(FDA: Washington, D.C.) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “Food Protection Plan Progress Report,” in conjunction with the “Interagency Working Group on Import Safety Action Plan Update,” shows significant areas of activity to further improve the safety of America’s food supply since unveiling its Food Protection Plan in November 2007.

The improvements highlight the agency’s efforts to address domestic and global changes in our food supply to help keep consumers enjoying one of the safest food supplies in the world.

“The Food Protection Plan is the comprehensive framework the agency needs to enhance the protection of our nation's food supply,” says commissioner of Food and Drugs Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. “Implementing the strategic approaches outlined in the plan is essential if we are to enhance our ability to respond and intervene in foodborne outbreaks. But there is much more that needs to be done. We are hopeful that Congress will support these efforts by providing the proposed new authorities that we requested in the Food Protection Plan.”

The FDA Food Protection Plan focuses on prevention, intervention (using targeted risk-based inspections and testing), and response (responding rapidly when problems are identified).

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