Dive Brief:
- A team of researchers from the University of Maryland, along with a UCLA colleague, have produced "the largest national database of food safety inspection information" from states, localities, and food outlets, according to a press release.
- Data from all of these separate sources is often collected and shared in different ways, so the researchers used data robots to automatically retrieve data from local government websites. It is now easier to compare that data between states, localities, and individual food operations.
- This database improves upon previous methods of collecting data manually and poorly correlating that data, which can "easily miss the big picture and have little impact on compliance actions," according to a press release.
Dive Insight:
With this new database in hand and a recently announced data-sharing initiative between the FDA and EPA, a combined effort of food safety regulatory agencies, as suggested by the president earlier this year, may not be far behind. The simplification and clarification of food safety seems to be more important than ever, and strides toward this type of technology — and maybe eventually regulation — may prove to be vital in future change in this aspect of food production and retail.