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The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996

Among the most beneficial regulations that the Congress of the United States has enacted are those related to the nation’s food supply. Agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration screen consumable products for safety, allowing the sale of only those food and drug items that are reasonably certain not to harm to those who ingest them. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates the use of pesticides in the growing of fruits and vegetables, setting standards to make sure the chemicals used to drive away insects and other critters do not hurt human beings.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Food Quality and Protection Act (FQPA), one of the most significant overhauls of pesticide regulations in many decades. Designed to update the statutes governing those who produce food for the modern era and standardize industry requirements, the FQPA enjoyed broad bipartisan support and its central goal was to reassess the maximum permitted residues of pesticides allowed in the production of food.

Prior to the implementation of the FQPA, fresh foods and processed foods had different standards regarding the amount of pesticide residue that was allowed in the end product. At one point, there was a mandate that the pesticide levels in certain processed foods had to be such that there was no risk of cancer in eating the product. This was an onerous burden on many manufacturers of processed food and those diet companies that base their meal plans on pre-packaged meals, since it is usually impossible to absolutely guarantee freedom from cancer risk, for science is always making new discoveries about the effects of chemicals on human beings. With the FQPA, the standard for pesticides was made the same for all foods; now all that has to be proved is that the level of pesticides in any food is reasonably unlikely to hurt diners. Nutrisystem deals and other discounts can now be offered more regularly because the new and better standard lowers the cost of producing foods. In fact, many dieters benefit from the good Nutrisystem coupons and other discounts that have resulted in some cases from the standardization of pesticide regulations under the FQPA.

Additionally, the FQPA established safer food for children and infants. The amount of residue allowed in foods today must now be explicitly certified as safe for the youngest citizens, taking into account the lower tolerance that young people have for chemical exposure.

The many varieties of pesticides used in food production create certain issues for supermarkets and other food retailers. Many consumers want to know about the risks of pesticides as well as the good that these chemicals do for our food supply. Others are afraid of pesticide use in all circumstances because they are not well informed about modern chemicals. The FQPA has also provided help for consumers, calling upon the Environmental Protection Agency to create informational brochures for sellers of fresh fruits and vegetables that explain the pros and cons of pesticides and how to suggest non-pesticide sprayed foods to those consumers that want to purchase them.

All in all, most people agree that the FQPA has performed its objectives of standardizing pesticide regulations and incorporating the latest science into decisions about food safety. Citizens can be grateful for the passage of the law and its wise implementation.