The 2017 FDA Food Code is a key component of a public health framework for maintaining a safe food supply and strengthening our nation's food protection system. Our nation’s food safety practices at more than a million restaurants, retail food stores, vending operations and food service operations play a critical role in preventing foodborne illness. The Food Code establishes practical, science-based guidance and enforceable provisions for controlling risk factors known to cause or contribute to foodborne illness outbreaks associated with these retail and foodservice establishments. Further, the Food Code represents the FDA's current thinking and best advice for a uniform system of regulation to ensure that retail food is safe, properly protected and presented, and has been widely adopted by state, local, tribal and territorial regulatory agencies that oversee the aforementioned establishments.
The benefits associated with complete and widespread adoption of the Food Code as statutes, codes and ordinances include, but are not limited to: