Consumer orgs dub regulation ‘Filthy Food Act’
The Regulatory Accountability Act was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year.
Supporters say the bill aims to eliminate red tape and regulations to lift unnecessary burdens on Americans and to promote jobs, innovation and economic growth.
However, the coalition said it would create an ‘unprecedented regulatory gauntlet’ through which no food safety rule or guidance could pass.
“The “Filthy Food Act” would arbitrarily cut science out of the regulatory process, replacing public input and expert analysis with never-ending reviews and layers upon layers of wasteful Congressional and judicial red tape,” they said in a letter to Ron Johnson, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and governmental affairs chair, and ranking member Claire McCaskill.
Regulatory policy must address changing threats, such as disease-resistant “super bugs” and risks from new production methods, they added.
“This is why food safety rules under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 are so critical, and expected to prevent over 800,000 cases of foodborne illness each year, according to the FDA’s regulatory impact analysis.”
The letter was signed by the Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Earthjustice, Environmental Working Group, Food & Environment Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Food & Water Watch, Food Policy Action, Public Citizen and US PIRG.
