Since the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906, over 100 years of science and research has helped us discover more about harmful pathogens and how to prevent illness than ever before. Today, our modern food safety system is comprised of a team of thousands of professionals at the federal, state and local levels who work together  to ensure the food on your table is safe to eat.

At the forefront of these efforts, USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) works diligently to promote food safety practices through inspections, improvement of policies and investigation of foodborne illness outbreaks. Over the past eight years, our network has grown stronger, while at the same time, our practices have modernized to meet growing demand from customers around the world.

You can hear Craig Wilson, Vice President of Costco Wholesale talk about the importance of food safety prevention and explain the steps Costco takes to ensure they are providing safe and wholesome food for their customers.

Join us throughout the month of July as we explore the incredible progress we’ve made since 2009 to update and modernize America’s food safety system and standards. Follow along on usda.gov, on the USDA blog and by using #USDAResults, or catch up on Chapter VII on our Medium site.

Secretary Vilsack accepted the Federal Agency of the Year award from League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and delivered remarks at the organization’s 87th Annual National Convention. (Photo credit: LULAC)