Commercial kitchens and industrial food processors use quality equipment, such as the Sunbeam food processor, and strict food safety guidelines to provide consumers with safe food options. But how can we be sure that they are adhering to those guidelines?
The National Food Processor Association, a division of the Food and Drug Administration, is responsible for overseeing food manufacturing and processing operations. Not only do they concentrate on protecting our food supply from naturally occuring bacteria and contamination; they are also constantly developing new methods of protecting our food supply from possible attack. After September 11, 2001, it became clear that the threat of bioterrorism was very real in our country.
Industrial and commercial food processing companies must be monitored and inspected to stay ahead of the threat of intentional contamination. With one processing plant or kitchen distributing food items to tens of thousands of people, a contaminated food supply would have disastrous consequences.
How is the NFPA working to protect industrial and commercial processors from this threat? They regularly inspect commercial kitchen and processing operations to determine where weaknesses in food safety and opportunities for contamination occur. They then develop systems to eliminate those risks. Thousands of inspectors work in the field to ensure that commercial and industrial processors are adhering to food safety guidelines. Food is inspected at the border before being allowed into the country. Suspect food products are sent for testing in a state of the art laboratory.
While the risk of a contaminated food supply cannot be completely eliminated, it can certainly be reduced. With safety measures in place to lower this risk, and to effectively deal with a food supply contamination, we can rest assured that our food supply is safe.