food safety

Overview

The current U.S. food safety system operates under a fragmented structure involving multiple federal agencies. In 1998, the National Academy of Sciences recommended that Congress establish a unified, central framework for managing food safety programs under a single authority.

For this assignment, you are required to write a 2- 4 page paper (excluding the title page and references) evaluating the pros and cons of consolidating food safety oversight into a single federal agency.

Your paper should critically analyze both the advantages and challenges of creating a single federal food safety agency. The following questions will guide you in writing your paper:

1. Efficiency and Coordination:

• How might a unified agency improve efficiency in food safety regulations?
• Could it lead to quicker responses to emerging food safety concerns?

2. Consolidation of Resources:

• What are the potential cost savings and improvements in resource allocation?
• How might this impact personnel, funding, and overall food safety enforcement?

3. Consistency in Standards:

• Could a single agency establish uniform food safety regulations nationwide?
• What are the potential benefits for public health and consumer confidence?

4. Challenges and Drawbacks:

• What bureaucratic hurdles or resistance to change might arise?
• How would centralization affect existing regulatory agencies and stakeholders?

5. Real-World Examples:

• Support your discussion with case studies or examples from other countries or industries.

Paper Structure

Your paper should follow a clear, logical structure, as outlined below:

Title Page

• Follow APA guidelines for formatting and style.
• Write your name, class, date, etc.
• Write a clear and concise title that reflects the main theme of your paper.

Introduction

• Start with an engaging statement or statistic to capture the readers interest.
• Provide a brief background information and explain the current U.S. food safety structure (Research the functions of the FDA, USDA, EPA, and CDC in food regulation and Briefly compare their responsibilities and jurisdictions).
• Clearly outline the thesis statement (argument) or objective of your paper.

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific point supporting your thesis. Your analysis should:

• Support the argument with data, expert opinions, or real-world cases.
• Explain how the evidence strengthens your argument.
• Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and provide rebuttals using evidence and reasoning.

Conclusion

• Restate your thesis by summarizing your key argument in a fresh way.
• Highlight the most important findings from your analysis.

References

• References should be cited both within the text and in the reference list.
• Provide a properly formatted APA reference list citing a minimum of five sources from government agencies (e.g., FDA, USDA), journal articles, books, and trusted websites.
• In-text citations should follow APA guidelines.
• Do not use PowerPoint slides as references.
• The textbook will count as one reference.

For APA formatting guidance, refer to .

Formatting Requirements

• Length: 2 – 4 pages (excluding the title page and references list).
• Font: 12-point, Double-spaced, One-inch margins on all sides, Times New Roman.
• File Format: Submit via blackboard as a Microsoft Word document (.docx).

Evaluation Criteria

Your paper will be assessed based on:

Completeness Did you address all required topics?

Scientific Accuracy Is your information factual and well-supported?

Adherence to Topic Does your discussion stay relevant to food safety?

Quality of References Are sources credible and properly cited?

Presentation Is the paper well-written, free of grammar errors, and easy to read?