WASHINGTON (AP) — New food safety rules mean companies must be more vigilant about keeping their manufacturing facilities clean.
The long-overdue rules come in the wake of deadly foodborne illness outbreaks linked to ice cream, caramel apples, cantaloupes and peanuts.
In all those outbreaks, investigators from the Food and Drug Administration investigators found dirty equipment in processing facilities.
The rules announced Thursday will require food manufacturers to submit food safety plans to the government to show that the companies are keeping their operations clean.
The rules were once promoted as an Obama administration priority, but that was before long delays and much uncertainty.
Advocacy groups sued over delays in issuing the rules — which were released under a court-ordered deadline.
