ARLINGTON, Va. — The Consumer Brands Association joined a coalition of consumer and food industry organizations today in calling for constructive changes to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) food program.

“All of us depend on the FDA to perform its regulatory role effectively, efficiently and transparently. And every American wants to have confidence in FDA’s ability to do that. We fear public confidence is in jeopardy,” the groups said in a letter to FDA Commissioner of Food and Drugs Robert Califf.

They outlined specific steps the agency should take to ensure the successful delivery of its critical food mission on behalf of public health and to elevate public confidence:

1.Immediately unify the FDA’s food program under a deputy commissioner for foods, who would serve as a full-time senior leader tasked with boosting internal accountability and external two-way communication with stakeholders.

2.Provide transparent accounting of FDA expenditures on Food Safety Modernization Act implementation to help project future funding needs.

The group requested a meeting with Califf on collaboration opportunities to strengthen FDA’s food safety and nutrition program.

“Our industry serves consumers best and is at its most innovative with a proactive FDA that is structured and funded for success,” said Roberta Wagner, vice president of regulatory and technical affairs at Consumer Brands. “We look forward to continuing our work with the agency on its efforts to tackle the food issues of today.” 

The full list of organizations on the letter with Consumer Brands includes the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, George Washington University, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Center for Food Safety, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Defend Our Health, Earthjustice, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Healthy Babies Bright Futures, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Lexicon of Sustainability, Natural Resources Defense Council, STOP Foodborne Illness, American Bakers Association, American Frozen Food Institute, Corn Refiners Association, Council for Responsible Nutrition, FMI – The Food Industry Association, Global Cold Chain Alliance, International Fresh Produce Association, National Association of Chemical Distributors, National Confectioners Association, National Fisheries Institute, North American Millers’ Association, Western Growers and the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

View the full text of the letter here.

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The Consumer Brands Association champions the industry whose products Americans depend on every day, representing nearly 2,000 iconic brands. From household and personal care to food and beverage products, the consumer packaged goods industry plays a vital role in powering the U.S. economy, contributing $2 trillion to U.S. GDP and supporting more than 20 million American jobs.