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DURBIN, DELAURO INTRODUCE THE FEDERAL FOOD ADMINISTRATION ACT
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) reintroduced the Federal Food Administration Act, legislation that would streamline our food safety system by consolidating the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food oversight responsibilities into a single agency dedicated to keeping the foods Americans eat safe.
“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.”
“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 Senator Durbin in this effort, because Americans deserve peace of mind that the government is keeping companies accountable with clear, consistent safety standards.”
FDA regulates approximately 80 percent of our food supply. Consumers and companies depend on FDA to perform its regulatory role 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 U.S.
About one in six Americans—or 48 million people—get sick from a foodborne illness each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 128,000 Americans also are hospitalized and 3,000 Americans die of foodborne diseases each year.
The Federal Food Administration Act would establish a Federal Food Administration under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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. This food safety agency, with a Senate-confirmed Commissioner, will 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 cosponsors of this legislation are U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51).
The legislation is endorsed by Consumer Reports, Consumer Federation of America, Environmental Working Group, and STOP Foodborne Illness.