CFS Calls on FDA to Nominate Deputy Commissioner of Foods, Take Urgent Action on Food Safety
May 19th, 2022
Following nationwide infant formula shortages, FDA Commissioner to testify today at House Committee hearing on FDA's budget for 2023
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf will be testifying at the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on FDA's budget for Fiscal Year 2023. The hearing comes on the heels of a Politico investigation revealing major structural problems within the FDA's food program and a nationwide infant formula shortage caused by food safety violations and FDA neglect at a major formula factory in Michigan.
The following are statements from Jaydee Hanson, policy director at Center for Food Safety (CFS):
"FDA must make food a priority once again by nominating a Deputy Commissioner of Foods. FDA also needs to be more proactive in responding to urgent food safety problems, not wait for months as they did in the case of the infant formula factory in Michigan—leading to a nationwide shortage affecting our most vulnerable populations as a result."
"The Congress has proposed more funding for FDA and some changes to the law in the most recent appropriations bill. CFS supports these changes and the proposed emergency funding for infant formula, but FDA did not act promptly within the framework and budget it already had. Part of this might be due to the various food sections of FDA being siloed, so that no one was in charge. Nominating a Deputy Commissioner of Foods would bring focused leadership and accountability to FDA's food program internally."
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