Senators introduce proposal on sterner regulation for food safety

Sen. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts has introduced the Ensuring Safe and Toxic Free Foods Act. Co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the new legislation calls for stricter regulation of “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) substances and the creation of a new office at the Food and Drug Administration to assess safety of chemicals in the US food supply.

“The only mystery families should encounter at mealtime is what’s for dinner, not what’s in dinner,” Markey said. “Americans deserve to know that the food at their kitchen table is safe for themselves and their families to eat. The FDA too often falls short on their responsibility to promote food safety, highlighted recently by the baby formula crisis where FDA’s deputy commissioner for food policy did not learn about the whistleblower complaint for four months. It is long past time we revise existing food safety measures and close the loophole allowing manufacturers to self-regulate what new substances can enter our food supply.” Read more