Food Safety Modernization Act

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rule on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food was finalized in 2014.

This rule, which applies to all shippers of food in the United States, was created to protect food from contamination during transport.

The rule’s requirements include:

Transport vehicle maintenance

Vehicles that transport food must be able to store the food at proper temperatures for food preservation and prevention of microbial contamination. Also, vehicles must be kept clean and sanitary, and must be designed in such a way that this can be achieved.

Transport operation protocols

During food transport, protocols must be in place to prevent incidental contamination, such as contamination of ready-to-eat foods by contact with raw foods, or contamination of food by contact with non-food objects, or the communication of allergens from incidental contact between different types of food.

Training of transporters, loaders, carriers and receivers

Those who handle food at any point along the transportation chain must be trained in sanitary food handling and optimal transportation practices. Trainings must be documented and records maintained.

Gulick Freight Service Logistics – including all our vehicles, drivers, loaders and receivers – has been in full compliance with the FSMA since its inception.

Questions? Please call us at (360) 693-5131.

For more information, see the FDA’s full description of the Food Safety and Modernization Act.