Amy McCarthy A reporter at Eater.com, focuses on pop culture, policy and labor, with only the strangest online trends.
Almost everything Americans eat – including food from restaurant menus across the country – is vetted by one of two government agencies. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), part of the FDA, regulates drugs and dietary supplements, and according to government language, the food that people eat in the US is “safe, healthy and hygienic.” and is hygienic and properly labelled. Meanwhile, the USDA works to support the American agricultural economy. “Provide Americans with a safe, adequate, nutritious food supply.”
On February 13th, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA. Kennedy holds many controversial food policy positions, including defending the consumption of raw milk. Martin McCurry, Johns Hopkins’ former surgeon and critic of the vaccine orderleads the FDA under Kennedy. Brook Rollins, Policy assistant who worked for the first Trump administrationHe is currently the Secretary of Agriculture. In other words, she leads the USDA. This is completely different from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Needless to say, there are some confusing departments between the two institutions. The USDA primarily oversees meat, chicken and eggs, but under its umbrella it also has a nutrition policy and promotional center that establishes dietary guidelines, as well as food and nutrition services that manage the benefits of SNAP (also known as food stamps). there is. Meanwhile, the FDA is responsible for adjusting and banging nutrition fact labels for all processed foods created and sold in the United States.
The humble pepperoni pizza illustrates the complex ways in which these two institutions interact. Usually, the only difference between cheese pizza and pepperoni pizza is pepperoni. However, because it contains meat, frozen pepperoni pizza undergoes three separate USDA inspections: a slaughterhouse, pepperoni manufacturing facility and pizza factory. Frozen cheese pizza, on the other hand, usually requires only one FDA approval. When pizza makers add nutrition labels.
Many Americans may think that USDA is the main testing unit of the US government, but because of its more prominent logos of meat and organic certifications – in fact FDA regulates approximately 78% of US food supplydairy products, seafood, agricultural products, packaging foods, bottled water, eggs, etc. (USDA meat grades come out of the marketing brunch, part of why these blue stamps make the USDA logo so unobtrusive. The FDA logo is approved every year, with millions of people approved. It does not appear on nutrition labels.)
The FDA itself does not inspect restaurants, but in addition to illuminating packaged foods that can be purchased in the US in green, the food codes also provide the city and state health departments when inspecting local businesses. It was used. This code aims to keep food at a safe temperature and condition to prevent spreading of foodborne diseases and diseases.
During the first Trump administration, his appointee Pork testing requirements have been relaxed and Chicken egg production facilityraised an alarm among food safety experts. His The presidency had a major impact on agriculture, farm labor and school lunch programs.and because this second term is likely to have an equal impact, it is important to know which part of the American food chain you are dealing with. This is a short breakdown of the range of the two institutions.
How does the government regulate meat?
USDA’s internal food safety and inspection services regulate almost all of the meat we eat, including beef, pork, goats, lamb (and poultry, see below). Safety inspections are mandatory, but USDA’s agricultural marketing services also offer producers the option to score meat. This additional service, which costs a fee, is why consumers see meat cuts labeled “USDA Prime” or “USDA Choice” at grocery stores. Diners note these distinctions that are used to demonstrate quality in many steakhouse menus.
Meanwhile, the FDA regulates “meat from exotic animals.” This includes other hunting games like venison and wild boars. USDA is responsible for inspecting sausages, but FDA inspects sausage casings ( As FoodSafetynews writes“They have no nutritional value as meat.”)
Which tissues test poultry?
The USDA inspects domesticated chicken, turkey, ducks, geese, and canned chicken products. I also have this agent Established processes for handling avian flu epidemicsIt ranges from essential testing of chicken products to slaughtering birds to prevent spreading of the virus.
Is the USDA or FDA responsible for keeping egg supply safe?
Representatives from the USDA and FDA acknowledge that the laws surrounding egg regulation are vague and vary from product to product. Generally, USDA inspects egg products, such as packaged egg whites and powdered eggs used in food processing, while FDA regulates the entire shell. (Again, USDA grade eggs are part of the branch’s marketing department and do not reflect safety testing.) Egg replacements and exchanges (egg products not included) are FDA’s is regulated by.
Which organization handles dairy regulations?
The FDA regulates milk and dairy products packaged in the US, including yogurt, sour cream, cheese and egg-free ice cream. The FDA has certain rules for different types of cheese. This requires either water or milk fat, or the aging time required for cheese made from raw fat or raw milk.
As the outbreak is occurring nationwide in light of the 2025 avian influenza, also known as H5N1 or “bird flu,” agents “promote comprehensive H5N1 surveillance of domestic milk supply and dairy farms.” We have also established milk testing strategies. To better understand how to fight viruses. The same goes for agents Virus Vaccine Research It may be fed to dairy cows to prevent the spread of H5N1.
Who is responsible for adjusting the fish?
The FDA regulates fish, shellfish, and all seafood. With the exception of catfish that are raised, their production is inspected by the USDA. When food is recalled by the supplier in the event of contamination, Recent recalls of major canned fish brands posed by botulinumthe FDA publishes recalls for those who purchase the recalled products to return or dispose of them before they are consumed.
Which organization produces it?
Fresh fruits and vegetables fall under USDA regulations, but once they are processed – applesauce or bottled juice, or dried fruit chips, will become an FDA issue.
So does the FDA process packaged food?
yes. Production of packaged foods such as Cheez-Its, Starburst, Lucky Charms, Grab and Go Salads, Frozen Pizza, Peanutt Butter and Jelly jars is all subject to FDA inspection and regulation.
However, when meat appears on sandwiches and pizzas with meat packaged, an interesting exception to the USDA/FDA rules arises. Open-faced meat sandwiches with more than half the proportion of meat to bread and other ingredients are regulated by the USDA. However, closed sandwiches with two slices of bread are controlled by the FDA as the ratio of meat to other ingredients is less than 50%.
