Legislators seek one agency for food safety

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-IL, and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT, have reintroduced the Federal Food Administration Act.

The act is designed to streamline the U.S. food safety system by consolidating the Food and Drug Administration’s and other agencys’ food oversight responsibilities into a single agency. The legislation failed to gain traction previously.

The legislation is endorsed by STOP Foodborne Illness, Consumer Reports, Consumer Federation of America, and the Environmental Working Group.

“The sad reality is that FDA has failed to protect Americans from preventable foodborne illnesses and death. In recent years, FDA has failed to protect babies from bacterial infections in their infant formula and lead-tainted applesauce pouches,” said Durbin. “This is why Congresswoman DeLauro and I are introducing legislation to create a Federal Food Administration. With the Federal Food Administration Act, we hope our nation will have greater success in protecting the foods in our kids’ lunch boxes and on our dining room tables.”

DeLauro said separating food safety efforts from the FDA’s drug and medical device oversight efforts would improve food safety work at the federal level.

“We need a single food safety agency to ensure the food Americans eat is safe,” said DeLauro. “Currently, food safety oversight is scattered across multiple agencies with the bulk of the responsibility falling to the Food and Drug Administration – where food safety has often been treated like a second-class citizen. This legislation would put one agency clearly in charge with the singular mission of protecting our food supply with the resources, staff and focus to achieve that goal. I am proud to partner with Sen. Durbin in this effort, because Americans deserve peace of mind that the government is keeping companies accountable with clear, consistent safety standards.”

FDA regulates 80 percent of the U.S. food supply with the other 20 percent falling under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Consumers and companies depend on FDA and USDA to perform their regulatory roles effectively.  Yet, despite increased authorities included in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the creation of the Human Foods Program at FDA, the agency has failed to make significant inroads in reducing rates of foodborne illness and death in the United States, according to the legislators.

About one in six Americans — 48 million people — get sick from a foodborne illness each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 128,000 Americans are hospitalized and 3,000 Americans die from foodborne diseases each year.

The Federal Food Administration Act would establish a Federal Food Administration under the Department of Health and Human Services by incorporating the existing food programs within FDA into this separate agency. The Human Foods Program, Center for Veterinary Medicine, and the Office of Inspections and Investigations efforts would be handled by one agency.

According to Durbin and DeLauro the single food safety agency, with a Senate-confirmed commissioner, would strengthen oversight of the food supply, improve the health and well-being of Americans, and ensure companies that cut corners on food safety are properly held accountable.

Joining Durbin and DeLauro as original co-sponsors of this legislation are Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, and Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-CA.