Consumer Reports is praising the approval of the Food and Drug Administration’s reorganization of its human foods program.
The reorganization aims to more effectively protect public health from foodborne illness outbreaks and other food safety risks, according to a news release. Implementation of the plan is set to begin on Oct. 1.
“Consumers depend on the FDA to be effectively organized and governed to ensure our food is safe,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in the release. “Today’s announcement is a major step forward and much credit goes to [FDA] Commissioner [Robert] Califf for facilitating the process to get to this point.
“We recognize that a significant amount of work remains to be done because a meaningful change in culture does not happen overnight,” Ronholm continued. “We look forward to working with the FDA to ensure this plan is effectively implemented so that it can carry out its critical mission to protect the public from food safety risks.”
In 2022, Califf ordered an external review of the agency’s office of food safety following widespread criticism of its handling of the infant formula crisis, the release said. Later that year, the Reagan Udall Foundation issued a report that concluded that the FDA’s culture, organizational structure and governance model have undermined its effectiveness. The report validated many of the concerns about the FDA raised by Consumer Reports and a diverse coalition of consumer groups, industry leaders, and state and local regulators, the release said.
