The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched the Reportable Food Registry which is designed to prevent food-borne illnesses in real time by speeding up the response at the first sign of a positive test for a pathogen or contaminant in food or animal feed.

FDA must be notified within 24 hours if they find through their own processes that a food might sicken or kill a human or an animal.

The reporting excludes dietary supplements and infant formula which have their own regulatory requirements but requires all other foods and animal feed that is regulated by the FDA. Federal, state, and local officials can also file reports through the electronic portal.

Michael R, Taylor, senior advisor to FDA Commissioner of Food and Drugs Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, said, "By fostering real-time submission, this system will enhance the FDA's ability to act more quickly".

The new rule by FDA also allows them require the companies to inform their sources and firms that received the products. These rules also require the companies to investigate the cause of adulteration if it began with them.

They are required to submit additional information and supplemental reports and work with the FDA to conduct follow ups according to the requirement.

The FDA further issued guidelines to the companies for using the portal. They will keep updating the guidelines as and when needed.

Craig Hedberg, PhD, a foodborne disease expert at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis said, "There are many situations that require human interaction, both to facilitate a prompt and appropriate response, and to ensure that everyone has a common understanding of the problem".