U.S. FDA Updates 2022 Edition of FDA Food Code

On 20 January 2023 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the re-release of the 2022 edition of the FDA Food Code. The food code provides guidance to state and local authorities and retailers to help mitigate foodborne illness risks at retail and provide a uniform set of national standards for retail food safety.

3E Review

The announcement referenced formatting errors as the reason for the re-release of the December publication of the 2022 edition of the FDA Food Code.

Significant changes to the 2022 Food Code include:

• Adding sesame as a major food allergen to reflect that the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021 established sesame as the ninth major food allergen
• Informing consumers, in writing, of major food allergens as ingredients in unpackaged food
• Adding labeling of major food allergens in bulk food that is available for consumer self-dispensing
• Creating new requirements for the allowance of pet dogs in outdoor dining spaces
• Revising the definition of intact meat, including enhancements to clarify time/temperature cooking requirements

In addition, in an effort to address food loss and waste in the food supply chain, the new code has clarified that food that is stored, prepared, packaged, displayed, and labeled according to Food Code safety provisions can be donated.

3E Analysis

Authorities, companies, and individuals involved in the food supply chain should be aware of the re-release of the 2022 Food Code.