FDA's Michael Taylor Cites Importance of Consumer Confidence in Food Safety

CHINA A top official at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week underscored the importance of consumers remaining confident in the food they eat.

Michael R. Taylor, FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, said consumer confidence, or lack thereof, can have big implications for the economy.

"It provides the foundation for the growing global trade in food, as well as robust domestic markets that are open to innovative products and technologies," said Taylor, during a speech last Wednesday at the China International Food Safety and Quality Conference and Expo in Shanghai, China. "And we know that when major illness outbreaks and contamination incidents damage consumer confidence in a particular commodity or sector, the loss of sales can be significant and take a long time to recover."

Taylor said food safety and consumer confidence are intertwined and part of a common effort that includes five themes. He emphasized the importance of the industry's commitment to food safety, the need for a comprehensive approach to preventing food safety problems and the significance of effective government oversight.

"Regulation must never be seen as a substitute for industry responsibility and commitment. On the other hand, history and recent experience have shown that government oversight and active engagement are crucial to food safety and consumer confidence," Taylor said. "This is because there are some things only government can do. These include setting the standards that define acceptable levels of food safety performance and create a level playing field for industry; conducting the inspections and investigations that bring objectivity and accountability to the verification that standards are being met and that food safety problems are being solved; and, finally, building the international partnerships that are essential to food safety in a globalized food system."

Taylor also highlighted the importance of public/private collaboration and industry and government transparency as it pertains to food safety.

"One of the very positive developments globally, including here in China, has been the candid and open recognition by governments that work is needed to modernize our food safety systems for a 21^st century global food system," he said.

"We know we can do more to prevent food safety problems, and transparency about this fact is the starting point for real progress and for gaining consumer trust that we understand and are tackling todays challenges," Taylor added.