U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The Bureau of Agriculture was established in 1862; in 1889, the Bureau became the U.S. Department of Agriculture with cabinet rank. The USDA administers thousands of programs related to food and agriculture and has sponsored extensive research to help farmers improve their crops. Critics have claimed that USDA programs have strongly supported factory farms and large commercial concerns at the expense of small, independent family farms.
The USDA also has responsibilities for food safety and nutrition. The USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is charged with ensuring that all meat, poultry, and egg products in the United States are safe to consume and are accurately labeled. This includes all food products that contain more than 2 to 3 percent meat products. All other food products are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There are several ways by which unsafe or improperly labeled meat and poultry products are detected, including (a) those uncovered by the company that manufactured or distributed the food; (b) FSIS test results that indicate that the products are adulterated or misbranded; (c) when FSIS field inspectors discover unsafe or improperly labeled foods; or (d) when epidemiological data from local, state, or federal sources (such as the FDA or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reveal unsafe, unwholesome, or inaccurately labeled food. When problems are discovered, manufacturers or distributors initiate a food recall to protect the public. If a company refuses to recall its products, then the FSIS has the legal authority to detain and seize those products. Once a recall has been issued, FSIS conducts effectiveness checks to verify that the product is removed from commerce. Critics believe that the FSIS does not have the funds necessary to properly inspect and test food, and therefore is not adequately meeting its responsibilities.

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