Comparative Food Politics

A comparison of EU and US food politics

Organizations

In the United States, there are many agencies related to food safety. Below is a list of those agencies, though it is not exhaustive.

  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Centers for Disease Prevention and Control
  • The Environmental Protection Agency
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services
  • Food and Nutrition Services
  • National Agricultural Library
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture

All of these agencies work to ensure food safety in the United States. In the European Union, there are different agencies with similar functions.

Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Safety: This parliamentary committee of the EU oversees EFSA and is responsible for regulating food systems.  

Safe Foods: Known for its antimicrobial prevention techniques, this corporation seeks to protect the world from foodborne illnesses.

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Established in 2002 after the many food crises of the 1990s, EFSA conducts food safety research and offers professional advice to industries and governments implementing food policy.

There are also international organizations related to food safety, namely the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN. Together, they jointly manage the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), which seeks to encourage the spread of ideas between countries , improve relations among countries, and improve every country’s capabilities in the face of a food crisis

INFOSAN was established in 2004 when people realized that with the globalization of food, there would also be the globalization of foodborne illness. Each member country has both Emergency Contact Points and Focal Points. Emergency Contact Points report food crises, alert the appropriate national authorities, and work with the INFOSAN Secretariat to determine what steps need to be taken to end the situation. Focal Points are responsible for the daily acts of the network, such as staying abreast of new food safety developments and sharing research and news within the country. 

This map depicts the likelihood of each country having a food crisis. Click picture for better quality.
This map depicts the likelihood of each country having a food crisis. Click picture for better quality. (Source: reliefweb)

Fast Facts

  • The United States and European Union each have different national organizations regulating food safety.
  • The FAO and WHO are international organizations with a range of responsibilities, one of them being food safety.
  • INFOSAN stands for International Food Safety Authorities Network.
  • The WHO and FAO jointly manage INFOSAN.
  • Every country has one Emergency Focal Point. It can have one or more Focal Points.
It's a global world and it's a global economy. As a result, food crosses borders and carries with it the increased risk of contamination and disease.
It’s a global world and it’s a global economy. As a result, food crosses borders and carries with it the increased risk of contamination and disease. (Source: WHO.int)