Food Safety

IDSA's food safety policy focus areas include promoting the adoption of irradiation to kill dangerous microbes on food, preventing the transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) to humans and addressing concerns about how the food industry's use of antimicrobial agents in food-producing animals for growth promotion purposes may impact human health.

Policymakers and the public may learn more about IDSA's positions concerning food safety and view useful policy documents, including reports from the Institute of Medicine, and other resources/links below.

IDSA Statements

Principles and Strategies to Limit Impact of Antimicrobial Resistance 05/22/2006

IDSA Principles and Strategies Intended to Limit the Impact of Antimicrobial Resistance.

Infectious Disease Physicians Urge Bayer to Cease Marketing Baytril 03/31/2004

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has joined other groups in calling for Bayer Corporation to remove from the market its drug, Baytril, a ciprofloxacin-like antibiotic used in poultry. Infectious disease experts, like consumer groups, are concerned that use of the drug in agriculture may promote antibiotic resistance, making similar drugs less effective in treating bacterial diarrhea in humans.

IDSA Letters

20 Organizations Support Obama Administration’s New Approach to Animal Drug Approvals and Uses 07/24/2009

IDSA and other organizations applaud the Obama administration and Food and Drug Administration for adopting an approach that demonstrates a clear commitment to sound and science-based policy development.

IDSA and TFAH Support FDA’s New Thinking on the Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in Animal Agriculture 07/17/2009

On July 13th, FDA testified in support of phasing out the use of antimicrobials in animals for growth promotion/feed efficiency and requiring that all other uses of antimicrobials in animals be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian and within the boundaries of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

IDSA Comments on Federal Agencies' Actions

Commented on FDA's Draft Guidance: Evaluating the Safety of Antimicrobial New Animal Drugs with Regard to Their Microbiological Effects on Bacteria on Human Health Concerns 11/01/2002

See final "FDA's Guidance" announced 10/23/03.

IDSA Supports FDA’s Review of the Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Animals 10/27/2000

Supported FDA’s review of the human health risks associated with the use of antimicrobial agents in animals in a statement. One drug company sponsor, Abbott, has agreed to withdraw its product. A second company, Bayer, is challenging FDA's decision. IDSA will continue to monitor this issue.

Institute of Medicine Reports

Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence, Detection, and Response 03/01/2003

IOM report provides a comprehensive study on the policy and infrastructure changes necessary to detect, prevent, and respond to microbial threats to health.

Advancing Prion Science: Guidance for the National Prion Research Program, Interim Report 01/01/2003

IOM interim report provides a comprehensive study on the development of a premortem diagnostic test for Mad-cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).

Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ground Beef: Review of a Draft Risk Assessment 10/01/2002

IOM study provides comprehensive formation on the risk of illness of E coli, human morbidity and mortality, and risk reduction strategies of the disease.

Important Links

UN/WHO Press Release: Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts more than 50 new food standards

UN WHO Press Release Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts more than 50 new food standards

Revised Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods

Information on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Links from FDA, USDA, CDC and NIH on mad cow disease

Facts About Food Irradiation

Background on Food Irradiation with answers to frequently asked questions.

Related Federal Websites

FDA’s Food Safety Website

FDA’s Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee