Health - Food Safety

Food Safety

May 1, 2007
Oversight Committee Examines FDA's Vital Mission and Challenges for the Future
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing that examined several key facets of FDA’s responsibilities as well as major concerns and challenges facing FDA’s ability to fulfill its important role and restore public confidence.

November 1, 2006
Weaknesses in FDA's Food Safety System
Rep. Waxman releases a fact sheet explaining that the growing incidence of contamination in fresh produce is a symptom of weaknesses in the federal food safety system.

March 27, 2006
Popular Sodas and Fruit and Energy Drinks May Contain Carcinogen
Reps. Waxman and Markey write to Acting FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach asking him to respond to recent reports that, since 1990, FDA has had evidence that many sodas and fruit and energy drinks—including popular children’s drinks—contain benzene, a dangerous carcinogen, but has failed to take any enforcement actions or alert the public. The letter calls for FDA to take immediate action to protect children and all consumers from the risk of benzene. 

March 2006
H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005
On March 9, 2006, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4167, "The National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005", which will hamper California's - and all states' - ability to implement laws regulating food safety. Rep. Waxman led opposition to this dangerous bill that could preempt more than 200 state protecting consumers, including California's Proposition 65. On March 15, Rep. Waxman wrote to the Food Products Association in order to clarify recent statements the group made about state regulation of food safety.

Rep. Waxman’s Work on Food Safety in the Government Reform Committee
Through his position as Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Committee, Rep. Waxman has been seeking information on the safety of the U.S. food supply, including the federal government’s handling of recent outbreaks involving E. coli 0157:H7 and Listeria and the recent case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (“mad cow disease”).