The food we eat, the clothes we wear and the toys we give to
children are such integral parts of our lives that we often
don’t give them a second thought. But in recent years reports of
Salmonella outbreaks and high lead levels have spurred concern
over food and consumer product safety. In an effort to combat
these hazards, the U.S. government has introduced the 2008
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and 2011’s Food Safety
Modernization Act. In our January cover story, “Safe Measures,”
InsideCounsel examines the implications of these two pieces of
landmark legislation and provides expert advice for companies
seeking to comply with their requirements. What is the history
of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA)? A series of well-
publicized Salmonella outbreaks—linked to foods such as peanut
butter, eggs and tomatoes—helped to spur the January 2011
passage of the FSMA. The law’s aim was to emphasize the
prevention of outbreaks, rather than focusing on the reaction to
those outbreaks. Under the FSMA, fa