Since the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011, food testing has been garnering attention as recalls and foodborne illness continue to make headlines. The main goal of the FSMA is to provide a means for proactively preventing outbreaks instead of reacting only after an outbreak has occurred. The FSMA requires the implementation of comprehensive, science-based preventive controls across the food supply, creating an opportunity for laboratories engaged in food testing and sampling. As a result, there is greater demand for food testing performed by an accredited laboratory and for accreditation bodies to provide comprehensive assessments (and ultimately accreditation) in order to increase consumers’ confidence in food products.

Although it still comes as a bit of a surprise to some AIHA members, AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs (AIHA-LAP) LLC accredits food testing laboratories through its Food Laboratory Accreditation Program (FoodLAP). Initiated in 2001, this accreditation program is intended for all laboratory, company, government, trade, and independent organizations that perform tests on food products and associated ingredients, including but not limited to raw agricultural commodities, finished food products, ingredients, in-process samples, and associated environmental samples.