What does the FDA do and what does the USDA do?
FDA
Products regulated by the Food & Drug Administration include: all foods except for meat and poultry, [which is regulated by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)]; prescription and non-prescription drugs; blood products, vaccines, and tissues for transplantation; medical devices and radiological products, including cellular telephones; animal drugs and feed; and cosmetics.
Their responsibilities are...
• to promote public health by promptly and efficiently reviewing clinical research and taking appropriate action on the marketing of regulated products in a timely manner.
• to protect public health by ensuring: foods are safe, wholesome, sanitary, and properly labeled; human and veterinary drugs are safe and effective; there is reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of devices intended for human use; cosmetics are safe and properly labeled; and public health and safety are protected from electronic product radiation.
USDA
Expanding markets for agricultural products and support international economic development, further developing alternative markets for agricultural products and activities, providing financing needed to help expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities and infrastructure in rural America, enhancing food safety by taking steps to reduce the prevalence of foodborne hazards from farm to table, improving nutrition and health by providing food assistance and nutrition education and promotion, and managing & protecting America's public and private lands working cooperatively with other levels of government and the private sector.
USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management
Basically, USDA regulates meat and FDA all other food, USDA is agriculturally based, FDA is consumer based. FDA regulates food, medicines, medical products, etc. to ensure they are safe. USDA regulates meat to ensure it's not contaminated, along with promoting agriculture.
Of course, they are government agencies, so who knows what they really do!
Products regulated by the Food & Drug Administration include: all foods except for meat and poultry, [which is regulated by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)]; prescription and non-prescription drugs; blood products, vaccines, and tissues for transplantation; medical devices and radiological products, including cellular telephones; animal drugs and feed; and cosmetics.
Their responsibilities are...
• to promote public health by promptly and efficiently reviewing clinical research and taking appropriate action on the marketing of regulated products in a timely manner.
• to protect public health by ensuring: foods are safe, wholesome, sanitary, and properly labeled; human and veterinary drugs are safe and effective; there is reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of devices intended for human use; cosmetics are safe and properly labeled; and public health and safety are protected from electronic product radiation.
USDA
Expanding markets for agricultural products and support international economic development, further developing alternative markets for agricultural products and activities, providing financing needed to help expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities and infrastructure in rural America, enhancing food safety by taking steps to reduce the prevalence of foodborne hazards from farm to table, improving nutrition and health by providing food assistance and nutrition education and promotion, and managing & protecting America's public and private lands working cooperatively with other levels of government and the private sector.
USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management
Basically, USDA regulates meat and FDA all other food, USDA is agriculturally based, FDA is consumer based. FDA regulates food, medicines, medical products, etc. to ensure they are safe. USDA regulates meat to ensure it's not contaminated, along with promoting agriculture.
Of course, they are government agencies, so who knows what they really do!
