John T. Allan is the vice president for regulatory affairs and international standards at the International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, D.C. He directs all aspects of IDFA's food safety training initiatives, leads efforts related to product safety issues and has responsibilities in federal and state regulatory affairs.
The data age is here to stay, and we know dairy companies that don't take advantage of it will be less successful than those that do in this highly competitive, and often volatile, market environment.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations represent a paradigm shift in how food is regulated in the United States to protect consumers from foodborne illness. The act and its corresponding regulations not only place more responsibility on food manufacturers, but also provide FDA with substantial new authority to use when inspecting facilities.