Food regulation in the United States is governed primarily by the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) covering meat, poultry, and egg products. The modern regulatory architecture rests on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA, 2011), which shifted the framework from reactive contamination response to preventive controls. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) are the operating disciplines, codified for human food in 21 CFR Part 117. Labeling is governed by 21 CFR Part 101, including Nutrition Facts, allergen disclosure (FALCPA, FASTER Act), and Country of Origin Labeling where applicable. Dietary supplements are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA, 1994).

This 16-hour Professional Certificate Course is the entry point of the Aleph Food Regulation course track. It introduces the FDA food framework, FSMA, HACCP and HARPC, the 21 CFR Part 117 Preventive Controls rule, food labeling under 21 CFR Part 101, dietary supplements under DSHEA, and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP).

The course prepares participants for the Advanced level (`RAQ-655-A`), where the same content is exercised at applied depth — applied HACCP / HARPC plan authoring, applied Food Safety Plan authoring under 21 CFR Part 117, applied label review under 21 CFR Part 101, applied FSVP supplier verification planning, applied dietary-supplement labeling review under DSHEA, and a capstone integrated food regulatory plan. Together the Introductory and Advanced levels form a 48-hour course track.

The Introductory course establishes the food-regulation vocabulary the industry expects of someone entering Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Food Safety, or Labeling roles. Employers in this space include food and beverage manufacturers, dietary-supplement manufacturers, importers, distributors, and consultancies serving the food industry.

Participants who meet the course completion requirements receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Aleph University.