It might sound like a disturbing question, but understanding what’s legally allowed in our food is crucial. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges that a certain amount of contamination is unavoidable during commercial food processing. This raises the question: how much “filth,” and specifically, how much human meat is permitted in our food supply? The answer, reassuringly, is none. While the FDA permits certain levels of unavoidable contaminants, human meat is never included in that allowance. This article dives into the FDA’s guidelines and what they consider acceptable “defects” in food.
The FDA’s “Food Defect Action Levels” handbook defines filth as “objectionable matter contributed by insects, rodents, and birds; decomposed material; and miscellaneous matter such as sand, soil, glass, rust, or other foreign substances.” Notably absent from this list is human meat or any human-derived material.
The FDA explains that achieving a completely sterile food production environment is “economically impractical.” Thus, they set limits for naturally occurring contaminants that are unaesthetic but generally not hazardous to public health. FDA spokesperson Ira R. Allen stated that the FDA focuses its resources on protecting the safety of the American food supply based on risk assessments of health hazards.
Close up studio shot of uncooked pork chops
It’s important to clarify that the FDA’s acceptance of minimal, non-hazardous defects does not extend to human meat. Their guidelines address naturally occurring or accidental contaminants during food production. When these levels are exceeded, the FDA can take immediate regulatory action, especially if disease-causing microbes are present.
While the thought of any contamination in our food might be unsettling, it’s important to understand that the FDA has strict regulations to ensure food safety. The agency focuses on contaminants that are realistically unavoidable and pose no health hazards. The question of “How Much Human Meat Is Allowed In Food” is a non-issue, as it’s entirely prohibited and not considered an unavoidable defect.
