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FDA Sample Protocols

FDA sample protocols refer to the agency's process of testing food and drug products to ensure consumer safety. The agency may provide companies with notice prior to collecting samples, however the law does not mandate advance notification.

  1. Types

    • According to the FDA, the agency uses sampling protocols to test human and veterinary drugs, medical devices and food. The agency also tests cosmetics and devices that emit radiation. Besides making products safer, the FDA facilitates the distribution of reliable information to the public concerning food and drugs.

    Function

    • The scope of FDA sample protocols extends to determining environmental impact on food products. One such protocol requires the agency to test the safety of Gulf-region seafood following the BP oil spill. The protocol calls for identifying test waters, sampling edible portions of raw and cooked seafood and for testing certain chemicals.

    Facts

    • FDA sampling guidelines require the agency to pay for test samples except in cases of court-ordered testing. The FDA does not test water, alcohol, meat and poultry or most consumer products.

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