Project Summary/Abstract
Through the Flexible Funding Model – Infrastructure Development and Maintenance for
State Manufactured Food Regulatory Programs, the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, Food Protection Program (BEH/FPP)
will maintain conformance with the most current version of the Manufactured Food
Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) as well as support coordinated
federal/state/local Human and Animal Food (HAF) emergency response efforts.
Continued conformance with the MFRPS will ensure that Massachusetts’ manufactured
food regulatory program maintains best practices for a high-quality regulatory program
to reduce foodborne illness hazards in plants that manufacture, process, pack, or hold
foods. BEH/FPP will continue to regulate and inspect its 2,069 food manufacturers
statewide, including licensed and non-licensed facilities and firms under shellfish and
dairy cooperative program inspections. The RRT will rapidly and effectively address
food emergencies, such as foodborne illness outbreaks, using a system of incident
management, laboratory testing, epidemiologic investigations, traceback and recall
operations, public and internal communications, data sharing, and trainings. The
Massachusetts RRT program will continue to be an active member of the Working
Group on Foodborne Illness Control to support an integrated response capacity.
BEH/FPP will continue to support the national infrastructure with continuing participation
in the mentorship program. BEH/FPP will collaborate closely with federal, state, and
local public health partners, industry, and other stakeholders as well as with agencies
and organizations in food/feed manufacturing, distribution, and protection to support its
technical and operational foundation for RRT maintenance. Measures to meet goals
and objectives will be carried out within the framework of the US FDA cooperative
agreement. BEH/FPP is committed, through its participation in this cooperative
agreement, to maintain and strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of food safety
and protection in Massachusetts and beyond.
