Summary

The existing food safety system, which costs $1 billion annually, falls short in protecting the public from major food borne illnesses. The current system was developed in a patchwork fashion over the years--a series of responses to specific health threats from food. Efforts to ensure food safety continue to be hampered by inflexible and outdated inspection methods, inconsistent oversight and enforcement, and ineffective coordination. In GAO's view, the adoption of a risk-based approach to inspections could make products safer and cut costs as scarce resources are redirected from low-risk to high-risk operations. To obtain a uniform, risk-based inspection system, fundamental changes are needed. GAO believes that creating a single food safety agency is the most effective way for the federal government to overcome long-standing problems, deal with emerging food safety issues, and guarantee the safety of the nation's food.