Representative Rosa Delauro (D-CT03) has introduced the Infant Formula Safety Modernization Act into Congress in the wake of the ByHeart formula botulism outbreak. The Act is intended to close gaps in testing, transparency, and regulatory enforcement. In that outbreak, at least 48 infants were sickened with a botulism infection. All were hospitalized and all were … Read more
The Government Accounting Office (GAO) is responsible for examining how taxpayer dollars are spent and provides Congress and federal agencies with objective, non-partisan, fact-based information. It is an independent, non-partisan agency that works for Congress. The latest GAO study of foodborne illness in the United States has found some issues and recommends a national food … Read more
A Government shutdown will threaten food and water safety, according to Food & Water Watch. The odds are good that the government will shut down on November 15, 2023, especially given the current chaos in Congress. A shutdown would affect every area of government. WIC and SNAP benefits would be threatened. Regional VA offices may … Read more
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) wants answers on alleged FDA food safety failures after a report in Politico listed problems with that agency. Senator Murray is Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. A letter was sent to FDA Commissioner Robert M Califf, asking for answers and immediate action. The Politico report was … Read more
The FASTER Act for sesame labeling and food allergy research has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill, called the Food Allergen Safety, Treatment, education, and Research Act (S. 578), passed the U.S. Senate on March 3, 2021, and it now goes from Congress to President Biden for his signature. This bill has been long … Read more
H.R. 1599, ironically labeled the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015,” otherwise known as the “Deny Americans the Right to Know” or DARK Act, was defeated in the U.S. Senate last week as S.R. 2621. Senators did not have enough votes for cloture, and the bill faced bi-partisan opposition. The bill would have … Read more
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is disappointed with the President’s FY 17 budget request for food safety funding for the Food and Drug Administration, which proposes almost no new funding for food safety activities. Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at CFA said in a statement, “with the Food Safety Modernization Act, Congress recognized … Read more
Food Policy Action, a coalition of Environmental Working Group and other agencies, has published its Congressional scorecard for the year. Other members of the agency include the Humane Society of the United States, Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Oxfam America, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, among others. … Read more
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has asked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to investigate that the Quincy Illinois Veterans’ Home is taking the proper steps in the deadly Legionnaires’ outbreak. Fifty-four people have been sickened with Legionnaires’ Disease in that part of the state, and 13 people … Read more
The huge spending bill passed by Congress last week cuts $93,000,000 from the Women Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That program gives low-income mothers and children vouchers for food that meets nutrition guidelines. WIC has been one of the most successful government programs in history. Both WIC and SNAP add money to … Read more