AFDO
Editor's Note: Read our Q&A with Steven Mandernach, AFDO's executive director, on the organization's white paper on recall modernization.
This week, 30 organizations that represent food industry leaders, consumers and state and local regulators released a letter urging the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen leadership and accountability in its food safety and nutrition program. The organizations include the Association of Food and Drug Officials, International Fresh Produce Association, Consumer Reports and more.
The joint letter, which also recommends adding a dedicated FDA food program, follows recent reports on serious issues within the FDA, including problematic organizational structure, governance, and performance.
"For these reasons, we are troubled by the recent Politico reporting of serious problems in the FDA food program’s organizational structure, governance, and performance," the letter stated. "Many throughout the consumer community and food industry have observed such problems and are concerned about their impact on the well-being of both consumers and industry. 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."
Read the full text here.