Food Industry Leaders Encourage Continued Congressional Support of FDA Funding

Companies that make and sell many foods found in supermarkets recently sent a letter to Congress supporting increased funding to the FDA, which oversees safety for about 80 percent of the nation’s food.

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Twenty-one food companies, retailers, and trade associations sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators on March 15 urging their continued support for increased funding of the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act.

The Pew Charitable Trusts supports the industry leaders’ call for additional funding in fiscal year 2017 from Congress to ensure “a strong FDA as [a] partner” and to boost consumer confidence. The goals of Pew’s food safety project align closely with the group’s priorities, which include modernizing current oversight practices to keep food in the United States safe.

FSMA places prevention as the foundation of our nation’s food safety strategy. Therefore, appropriating this money is critical to ensuring the FDA has the training, technical assistance, and infrastructure in place to implement FSMA effectively.

Companies that signed the letter include the American Bakers Association, American Frozen Food Institute, Campbell Soup Company, Cargill, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Congra Brands, Inc., Costco Wholesale, Grocery Manufacturers Association, The Hershey Company, The International Bottled Water Association, The Kellogg Company, Land O’Lakes, Mars Incorporated, National Fisheries Institute, Nestlé, Peanut And Tree Nut Processors Association, PepsiCo, Inc., Produce Marketing Association, Unilever, Inc., United Fresh Produce Association, and Walmart Stores, Inc.

Sandra Eskin directs The Pew Charitable Trusts’ work on food safety.