Western Growers along with a coalition of trade and consumer advocacy organizations commented on the Reagan-Udall Foundation report, which proposes reforms to the Food and Drug Administration’s Human Foods Program.

The letter to Dr. Robert Califf, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, follows up on comments made by De Ann Davis, SVP of Science with Western Growers, last week. 

Western Growers and the coalition offer its support of the Reagan-Udall Foundation report by saying: “We believe the Expert Panel report the Foundation issued on December 6 accurately captures the problems involving the structure, leadership, culture, transparency, and accountability within the FDA’s foods program, all of which are preventing the agency from doing its best to protect consumers and enable industry to innovate.”

The organizations in the coalition support two core incentives of the report: to have a single leader who is accountable for the foods program and that inspection and compliance functions of the Office of Regulatory Affairs should be integrated with the FDA’s Centers.

The letter offers thoughts and suggestions on the preferred options offered in the Reagan-Udall Foundation report: “We urge you to announce your commitment to an empowered deputy commissioner model (Option B or E) in February, and name an expert food safety leader who could begin serving in that role immediately on an acting basis while deliberations and dialogue continue on how best to implement such a model.”

The message urges the Commission to “seriously engage external stakeholders – consumers, industry, and state and local partners – in genuine dialogue before announcing your decision.”

Read the full letter to Dr. Robert Califf here.