Issues and Concerns with Imported Foods
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • Purpose of the Guide
  • Responsible Agencies
  • Imported Food Process
  • Definitions
  • Examples and Explanations
    • Microbiological Contamination
    • Undeclared Allergens
    • Banned Antibiotics
    • Uneviscerated Processed Fish
    • Unapproved Colors
    • Unapproved E 124 (Ponceau 4R)
    • Lead Contaminated Foods and Packaging Containers
    • Sodium Cyclamate
    • Undeclared Preservatives
    • Mycotoxin
    • Shelf Stability
    • Economic Adulteration
    • English
  • Additional Imported Food Concerns
    • Imported birds nests, balut, and guinea pig
    • Duck tongue imported from China
    • Illegally imported from China
    • Beef products imported from Italy
    • Deer tails, tendons, and slicked antlers unknown/unapproved source
    • Imported canned iguana soup
    • Ackees
  • Certified Food Colors Permitted in Foods
  • Food Color Additives Banned in the USA
  • Other AFDO Publications
  • Acknowledgements
Association of Food and Drug Officials

Introduction

Due to the forces of the global economy and increased demand for traditional ethnic foods, the rate of imported foods into the United States is on the rise (Brooks, Buzby & Regni, 2009).

According to the Food & Drug Administration, the growing volumes of imported foods in the US will approach 10 million import lines in FY 2011 (FDA, 2011).  This number is expected to continue to grow.  As indicated by the many nationwide imported food recalls and import alerts, there has been a heightened food safety concern with imported foods for the US consumer. 

Less than 1% of imported foods is physically examined; although 100% are electronically reviewed by use of a risk based targeted approach (Elder, 2010).

Once these FDA-regulated products enter the United States and are marketed domestically, they become the primary responsibility of state and local agencies to ensure the products’ safety (Corby, 2010).

Surveillance of imported foods by federal, state, and local food protection agencies has resulted in many regulatory actions including food sampling and testing, food seizure or embargo, destruction of violative products, Class I, II, and III food recalls, and FDA Import Alerts.
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