Which act is focused on preventing contamination and improving food safety through preventive controls?

• A. Food Safety Modernization Act
• B. Egg Products Inspection Act
• C. Humane Methods for Slaughter Act
• D. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

Answer: (A)

Prevention-based regulation of food safety—building safeguards into production and supply chains to stop contamination.

The act in question is the one that shifts attention from reacting to problems to stopping contamination before it happens. It requires facilities to conduct hazard analyses, put in place preventive controls, and maintain a comprehensive food safety plan. It also expands oversight of the supply chain and strengthens FDA authority to verify that imported foods meet safety standards. This approach embodies a proactive, risk-based framework designed to reduce the likelihood of contamination reaching consumers.

Other acts address different aspects of safety and oversight. The Egg Products Inspection Act focuses specifically on egg products, mainly through inspections and process controls for that category. The Humane Methods for Slaughter Act concerns the humane treatment of animals during slaughter. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act provides the broad foundation for safety across foods, drugs, and cosmetics but does not center on a preventive controls framework across the entire food system in the way that the prevention-focused act does.