A new legal analysis urges US Congress to authorize user fees for food companies to boost FDA funding and close safety loopholes, including the controversial GRAS rule (generally recognized as safe) that allows companies to self-approve ingredients. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) warns that underfunding and restructuring threaten FDA oversight, while major food and health groups are urging Congress to allocate US$30 million for chemical safety reviews. The study from New York University (NYU), US, anticipates that the FDA’s understaffing and underfunding will negatively impact its ability to ensure food supply safety. The FDA regulates around 78% of the US food supply, which includes packaged products, food additives, and infant formula.
