How safe is our food supply? Each year the media report what appears to be growing concern related to illness caused by the food consumed by Americans. These food borne illnesses are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, pesticide residues, and food additives. Recent actions taken at the federal, state, and local levels in response to the increase in reported incidences of food borne illnesses point to the need to evaluate the food safety system in the United States. This book assesses the effectiveness of the current food safety system and provides recommendations on changes needed to ensure an effective science-based food safety system. Ensuring Safe Food discusses such important issues as: What are the primary hazards associated with the food supply? What gaps exist in the current system for ensuring a safe food supply? What effects do trends in food consumption have on food safety? What is the impact of food preparation and handling practices in the home, in food services, or in production operations on the risk of food borne illnesses? What organizational changes in responsibility or oversight could be made to increase the effectiveness of the food safety system in the United States? Current concerns associated with microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards in the food supply are discussed. The book also considers how changes in technology and food processing might introduce new risks. Recommendations are made on steps for developing a coordinated, unified system for food safety. The book also highlights areas that need additional study. Ensuring Safe Food will be important for policymakers, food trade professionals, food producers, food processors, food researchers, public health professionals, and consumers.

Examines the effect of the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974.

Now the fundamental contents of the acclaimed Safety At Work are presented here in a user-friendly format, suitable for readers whose roles demand knowledge and competence in health and safety practice. This will include students for the NEBOSH National General Certificate examinations, and the IOSH Managing Safely and Working Safely awards. However, Health and Safety, 2nd Edition also encompasses other readers whose roles demand a level of knowledge and competence in health and safety practice, including human resources managers, office and site managers and all line staff with health and safety responsibilities. Health and Safety In Brief 2nd Edition will prove to be as indispensable as its predecessor to a much wider audience, and as such will be an invaluable addition to the bookshelves of anyone working within the field of safety at work.