www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/92255-usp-letter-urges-fda-to-address-economically-motivated-adulteration
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USP letter urges FDA to address economically-motivated adulteration

Jeremy Gerrard
May 9, 2014
The United States Pharmacopeial Convention has sent a public comment letter to the FDA asking the administration to address economically-motivated adulteration emphasizing the risks intentional adulteration of ingredients for economic gain can produce.

“Economically-motivated adulteration of food ingredients is a significant concern, with its own challenges, posing a threat to public safety, eroding consumer confidence in the integrity of food and disrupting markets by placing control of the supply chain in the hands of criminals,” said Ronald Piervincenzi, chief executive officer for USP. “EMA should be addressed as its own unique category of food adulteration.”

Concerns for USP included dilution, substitution, concealment and mislabeling of ingredients.

USP is recommending FDA consider an approach that would include assessing where EMA is most likely to occur while having public standards available.

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Jeremy Gerrard was Food Engineering's Digital/Online Editor. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in journalism. His previous work experience includes years spent as a reporter with the Daily Local News out of Chester County, PA. In addition to writing feature articles for Food Engineering, Jeremy covered the Dry Processing, Field Reports and People and Industry news sections.