26 Medical and Health Groups Urge Increased Funding for Food Safety

Twenty-six organizations, including The Pew Charitable Trusts, asked Congress on March 4 to support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s request for an additional $109.5 million for food safety in fiscal year 2016. The increased resources would allow the agency to make investments critical to the effective implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) passed by Congress nearly five years ago.

Beginning this year, FDA will issue final rules under FSMA that will strengthen the nation’s oversight systems for domestic and imported food. Without a significant funding boost, however, the agency will not be fully prepared to help food producers comply with new safety requirements that are vital to preventing foodborne illnesses.

Read the coalition letter to the leadership of the House and Senate appropriations committees.