Which agency oversees U.S. seafood imports?
The FDA, which is responsible for ensuring the safety and legality of Americans food supply. All imported products must meet the same standards as domestic goods and are subject to FDA inspections. Donald Kraemer, acting director for the office of seafood at FDAs Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, says that inspectors establish their priorities based on two broad categories: risk and history. When we look at products and importers, there is a variety of risks, Kraemer says. [With] ready-to-eat products, we look for salmonella and other contamination concerns. With fresh fish, its more likely to be histamines. Our highest priority, without a doubt, is to look at food-safety issues. The FDA screening process has halted many unsafe products, Kraemer says, such as those contaminated with bacteria or showing traces of illegal antibiotics. The agency keeps a database of offenders and tracks trends on violations regarding products and exporting countries. Clearly if youre importing
