It appears increasingly likely that we are approaching another major shift in food safety regulation. The shift in this case would be the declaration of Salmonella as an adulterant in raw meat and poultry. Historically, major shifts tend to follow a cyclical pattern.
The most notable example of a major shift is what took place in the 1990s. The catalyst in that instance was the Jack-in-the-Box E. coli outbreak, perhaps the most consequential event in the history of American food safety. The national discourse following the outbreak — which sickened more than 600 people — led to increased regulatory scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared E. coli O157:H7 an adulterant in ground beef, mandated hazardous analysis and critical control point (HACCP) programs, safe handling labels and E. coli O157:H7 testing. At the same time, Internet technology facilitated the creation of Pulsenet, a national foodborne illness surveillance system. One of Pulsenet’s enduring legacies is the revelation that foodborne illness was far more prevalent than previously believed. The increased regulatory scrutiny and improved understanding of foodborne illness ushered in a sustained period of innovation. In time, foodborne illness and its prevention were dramatically improved (especially as it related to the meat industry).