FDA Foods Coalition Urges RFK Not to Cut More Resources, Staff

The FDA Foods Coalition, made up of consumer advocates, food industry representatives, public health groups and state and local regulators, sent a letter to Health and Human Services Committee Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. March 5, urging him not to cut additional resources and staffing for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Human Foods Program.

The letter follows the February layoffs of 89 members of the FDA’s Human Foods Program, including staffers that review potentially unsafe ingredients in food.

“Maintaining safe, accessible and affordable food is a fundamental public health priority and a key component of your Make America Healthy Again platform,” reads the letter. “An under-resourced food safety agency could jeopardize your stated objectives to improve nutrition and ingredient safety for children and adults.”

The letter was signed by the Alliance for Recall Ready Communities; American Frozen Food Institute; Association of Food and Drug Officials; Center for Science in the Public Interest; Consumer Brands Association; Consumer Federation of America; Consumer Reports; Council for Responsible Nutrition; Edible Oil Producers Association; Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security - The George Washington University; International Association of Color Manufacturers; International Dairy Foods Association; International Food Additives Council; North American Millers’ Association; Recall InfoLink; STOP Foodborne Illness; The Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association; Western Growers; Dr. Darin Detwiler; Bill Marler; Dr. Jennifer McEntire; Sharon Natanblut; Dr. Stephen Ostroff; and Michael Taylor.

“Adequate resources are critical not only for foodborne illness outbreak response but also for developing and updating food safety standards, providing science-based industry guidance and ensuring a well-trained federal-state inspection force to protect the integrity of our food system,” said the letter. “We are optimistic that under your leadership, and with sufficient funding and manpower, FDA can realize several critical improvements that will advance the health and wellbeing of all Americans.”

The letter was also sent to Kyle Diamantas, acting FDA deputy commissioner for human foods.

Read the full letter here.