Three government health agencies announced two joint public meetings to measure food safety progress.

Three government health agencies-the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- announced two joint public meetings to hear stakeholder presentations on measuring food safety progress. One meeting was held in Chicago on July 21; the other is scheduled for October 20 in Portland, OR.

The agencies have been collaborating to reduce foodborne illness as part of the Food Safety Working Group, organized by the White House. The Working Group recommends a public health-focused approach to food safety based on the principles of prioritizing prevention, strengthening surveillance and enforcement, and improving response and recovery.

FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael Taylor says the meetings will focus on how the agencies measure progress in reducing risk, because it’s “an important part of our food safety strategy.” He says the agencies need to know what works and what doesn’t.

“What doesn’t get measured doesn’t get done,” says USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Jerold R. Mande. “To meet the President’s food safety goals, we need clear, effective measures of food safety so that government and industry can be held accountable by the public.”