What is the primary goal of food safety regulations?

The primary goal of food safety regulations is to ensure public health and prevent foodborne illnesses. These regulations are designed to create standards and protocols that food businesses must follow, which helps mitigate the risk of contamination and the spread of pathogens. By enforcing safe food handling, cooking, and storage practices, food safety regulations aim to protect consumers from health risks associated with unsafe food. This is crucial for maintaining a safe food supply and fostering public trust in the food industry.

While increasing restaurant profits, promoting healthy eating habits, and supporting local food producers are all important aspects of the food system, they do not encompass the fundamental objective of food safety regulations, which centers around safeguarding the well-being of the public by reducing the likelihood of foodborne illnesses.