Consumer Federation of America is pleased to comment on the Food and Drug Administration notice concerning the Designation of High-Risk Foods for Tracing. The importance of revising the list is clear from past incidents where previously “low-risk” foods became associated with nationwide foodborne illness outbreaks, sickening consumers. Several years ago, most stakeholders would have identified peanut butter as a “low-risk” food. After multiple contamination events that sickened numerous consumers, peanut butter can no longer be considered “low-risk.” Further, ingredients of processed products, such as spices, are increasingly being implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks.

