Seafood Safety: Responsibility for Inspecting Catfish Should Not Be Assigned to USDA Government Accountability Office Author

FSIS and FDA are the two primary food safety agencies. FSIS is responsible for the safety of meat, poultry, and processed egg products, and, pursuant to the Farm Bill, is given authority to inspect catfish as soon as it issues final regulations to carry out a catfish inspection program. FDA is responsible for virtually all other food, including seafood. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA is responsible for ensuring that the nation’s food supply, including seafood, is safe, wholesome, sanitary, and properly labeled.