Senator Cotton proposes study to streamline food safety oversight

Senator Tom Cotton, R-AR, has introduced legislation that would direct the Department of Agriculture to study consolidating federal food safety agencies into a single entity. If approved, the Study And Framework for Efficiency in Food Oversight and Organizational Design Act of 2025, or SAFE FOOD Act, would aim to enhance public health protections by unifying oversight currently spread across multiple agencies.

Food safety experts and consumer groups have been calling for the consolidation for years. In the past, Democratic senators and representatives have introduced legislation to consolidate food safety activities. At least 16 agencies currently have food safety responsibilities.

Oversight spread among multiple agencies

The bill, introduced in the Senate on May 21 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, calls for a study to evaluate merging agencies like the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These agencies share responsibilities for ensuring food safety in the United States but operate independently, which Cotton argues leads to inefficiencies.

“Current food safety oversight is spread across multiple federal, state, and local agencies, which decreases efficacy, creates gaps, and slows response times to potential public health risks,” Cotton said in a news release. “My bill is a commonsense step to expanding government efficiency and enhancing public health protection by unifying our food safety agencies.”

The bill would require the secretary of agriculture to initiate the study within 60 days, with a report due to Congress within one year. The study aims to provide data-driven insights to restructure the federal food safety system, potentially reducing redundancies and improving responses to foodborne illness outbreaks.

Decades-old debate over consolidation
The SAFE FOOD Act addresses long-standing concerns about fragmented oversight. The Food Safety and Inspection Service oversees meat, poultry, and egg products, while the Food and Drug Administration regulates most other foods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works with the FDA to track foodborne illness outbreaks. Critics argue this division creates confusion and delays. Historical proposals for consolidation, dating back to the 1940s, have sparked debate, with supporters citing streamlined regulations and opponents warning of bureaucratic challenges and loss of specialized expertise.

Countries like Canada and the United Kingdom have consolidated food safety systems, achieving efficiencies but also facing initial disruptions, according to a 2005 Government Accountability Office report. The SAFE FOOD Act has not yet drawn specific reactions from food safety organizations, but past debates suggest potential controversy among industry and consumer groups.

Next steps unclear as bill heads to committee
Cotton’s office said the bill would equip Congress with information to reform food safety protocols amid evolving challenges like supply chain issues and emerging pathogens. The full bill can be viewed here.

The proposal awaits a committee vote, and its future is uncertain. If approved, the study’s findings could shape significant reforms to the nation’s food safety framework.

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