Food Safety Could be Cut down by Incoming FDA Appropriations Chair

Just when it looked like the Food Safety Modernization Act was ready to become law, a lead candidate to head the subcommittee in charge of FDA’s budget is now sounding off.

The Food Safety Modernization Act would increase food facility inspections, along with a host of other food safety measures-all of which will undoubtedly cost more money.

With House Republicans having earned majority rule in last year’s congressional elections, Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA) is rumored to be the top contender for chair of the House subcommittee that oversees FDA’s budget. Kingston voted against the bill and was recently interviewed in Bloomberg News about his opinion of the bill’s future:

“There’s a high possibility of trimming this whole package back. While it’s a great re-election tool to terrify people into thinking that the food they’re eating is unsafe and unsanitary, and if not for the wonderful nanny-state politicians we’d be getting sick after every meal, the system we have is doing a darn good job.”

In a recent conference call, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said of the bill, “I’m very optimistic that we will be able to move forward,” according to Bloomberg News.

Nutritional Outlook will continue to report on issues surrounding the country’s new food safety bill.