Question

Which of the following agencies does prescribe the level of treatment needed for a dairy plant?

• A. FDA
• B. IDF
• C. EPA
• D. WHO

Hint:

Differentiate between regulatory agencies and advisory organizations. Regulatory bodies like the FDA (USA) or FSSAI (India) create legally enforceable laws. International organizations like IDF and WHO provide scientific guidance and model regulations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the agency that sets legally binding regulations for food processing, such as the specific time-temperature requirements for pasteurization in a dairy plant.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
(A) FDA (Food and Drug Administration): This is a national regulatory agency in the United States. It has the legal authority to create and enforce regulations to ensure food safety. Its Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) is a key document that prescribes the exact levels of treatment (pasteurization, etc.) for dairy products. Similar national agencies exist in other countries (e.g., FSSAI in India, CFIA in Canada). This is the correct type of agency.
(B) IDF (International Dairy Federation): The IDF is a non-governmental, non-profit international organization that provides a forum for the dairy sector to reach consensus on scientific and technical matters. It develops standards and guidelines but does not have legal enforcement power.
(C) EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): This agency's role is to protect human health and the environment. It would regulate a dairy plant's waste disposal and emissions, not the food processing standards for the milk itself.
(D) WHO (World Health Organization): WHO, along with the FAO, establishes international food standards through the Codex Alimentarius Commission. These are recommendations and a basis for national laws, but WHO itself does not directly regulate individual plants in a country.
A national regulatory body like the FDA is the one that "prescribes" legally mandated treatment levels.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The FDA is an example of a regulatory agency that prescribes the level of treatment needed for a dairy plant.