Notes

The USDA is the US Federal executive department responsible for developing & executing federal laws related to farming, agriculture, forestry, & food. They are In charge of changes related to food processing and food distribution, as well as the inspection of domestic product, imports and exports; conducting risk assessments; and educating the public about the importance of food safety. They also take special precautions to keep our food same and free of illnesses such as E. Coli and salmonella.
The USDA made up of 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees with more than 4,500 locations across the US and abroad. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service(FSIS) ensures that our Nation’s meat, poultry, and processed egg supply is wholesome, safe and properly labeled. United States Department of Agriculture expects to prevent as many as 25,000 foodborne illnesses annually thanks to tougher standards set for salmonella.The USDA protects consumers from E. Coli contamination by adopting a zero tolerance policy for six strains of the pathogen in raw beef products. Prohibiting them just like to E. coli O157:H7. Enforcement to detect these dangerous pathogens and prevent them from reaching consumers began in March 2012,” The Usda website says in regards to protecting public health from things such as food borne illnesses.
Through prevention-based policies and practices USDA is meeting the foodborne challenges of the 21st century head on and using science to craft the best ways forward. As for the foods that have made it into stores that aren’t exactly safe, The USDA website says, “Implementation of a "test and hold" policy in December 2012 prevents the recall of unsafe foods. Facilities are now required to hold product until microbiological testing can determine it is safe to release meat, poultry and egg products into commerce. This policy will significantly reduce consumer exposure to unsafe meat products. The measure would have prevented 44 recalls of unsafe foods between 2007 and 2009.” So even if they can not make a recall for unsafe foods, they are now taking extra precautions to prevent unsafe foods from getting to stores.
In America, there are around 434 dairy-induced illnesses out of 3.9 million total foodborne illnesses. CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) is responsible for developing and promoting dietary guidance that links the best evidence-based scientific research to the nutrition needs of Americans. The USDA has many programs that educate the public about topics such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, Child Nutrition, food distribution, and additional programs. The Usda website also states, “the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, within the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, works to improve the health of all Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. It provides national leadership, technical expertise, and cooperation for development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and Federal nutrition and economic initiatives.”




CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the USDA’s role in food safety is to educate the public about how to stay safe when handling, preparing, and consuming food. As well as the inspection of domestic product, imports and exports; conducting risk assessments; changes related to food processing and food distribution. The USDA is also responsible for trying to decrease the number of food borne illnesses in the US by being more strict about what goes into our foods and taking extra measures and precautions to make sure that the food we buy is safe, wholesome, and nutritious for us.