Food Code Adoption Toolkit Available Now!

The Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaborative (the Collaborative) is pleased to announce the release of our Food Code Adoption Toolkit. The Toolkit is a living resource that provides research, resources, and support to decision-makers looking to adopt the most recent versions of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Code to regulate the retail segment of the food industry.

Increasing the number of state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) regulating bodies that have adopted the two most recent versions of the FDA Food Code is one of the primary aims of the Collaborative. The Food Code is a model code for safeguarding public health against instances of foodborne illness and is a scientifically sound , technical resource that can be used to regulate the retail segment of the food industry. Adoption of the latest versions of the Food Code is associated with many benefits including ensuring food safety regulations that reflect the most current science available, and which will evolve to reflect new science, knowledge, and emerging technologies. The Food Code Adoption Toolkit features letters of support from six national associations, three industry associations, and four regulatory programs so far. The Toolkit will also assist SLTTs’ food safety regulations to remain current with other federal laws and is a significant step towards lowering the incidence of foodborne illness at the retail level.

Developed by the Collaborative’s Food Code Adoption Toolkit Working group, the Toolkit serves as an educational resource and as a tool to influence decision-makers to support using the most current, science-based standards to promote public health in the communities they serve.

The Food Code Adoption Toolkit is now available on the Collaborative’s website.