What must be done with food products that do not meet federal quality standards?

Food products that do not meet federal quality standards must be rejected and not sold to consumers to ensure public health and safety. This standard is in place to prevent contaminated or unsafe food from reaching the market, as it could pose serious health risks to consumers. Federal quality standards are established to ensure that all food products sold are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled. Allowing substandard food products to be sold could undermine consumer trust and lead to foodborne illnesses, thereby placing the responsibility on producers and vendors to adhere strictly to these regulations.

While alternatives such as donating to food banks or using them for storage might sound beneficial, they may not comply with federal regulations regarding food safety and quality. Food that does not meet the appropriate standards is not safe for consumption, and even though specific organizations exist to help in food redistribution, those foods that do not meet safety standards should never be donated. Therefore, the strict adherence to rejecting food products that do not meet federal quality standards is essential to uphold safety practices in food distribution.