“Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced bipartisan legislation to allow the Food and Drug Administration to share food safety information with states.
Representatives Deborah Ross, D-NC, and Rep. Michael Rulli, R-OH, say they introduced the Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026 to help keep Americans safe from food contamination and foodborne illnesses.
The legislation would give the federal Food and Drug Administration the authority to share information with state and local regulatory agencies, who conduct a majority of food processing inspections for FDA. The FDA currently does not have the authority to share this information because it is considered proprietary.
Information covered by the legislation is:
- Distribution lists for recalls and outbreaks;
- Consumer complaints;
- Foodborne illness surveillance data;
- Laboratory sampling testing information; and
- Inspectional information and results.
The legislation would allow the FDA to bar states from further releasing information as it deems necessary.
In 2024, communication between federal and local agencies in North Carolina resulted in the successful recall of lead-contaminated applesauce across the country, demonstrating the benefits of how sharing relevant food safety information can protect the public, according to a statement from the representatives.
“In my home state of North Carolina, we have seen how information sharing between federal and state agencies during a food safety crisis led to a food recall that saved lives across the country,” said Rep. Ross.
“We must empower FDA to share information with the state and local agencies that are not only responsible for conducting the majority of food safety inspections nationwide, but also with keeping Americans safe during times of crisis. This legislation is a commonsense solution that will improve government communications, keep people healthy, and save lives.”
Rep. Rulli said bureaucratic red tape has slowed real time cooperation on food safety.
“This bill is a practical reform that cuts red tape, enables faster responses to threats, and delivers stronger protections for Ohio families and families across the country without adding new mandates or spending,” Rulli said.”
Author: Coral Beach
Source: Food Safety News
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