A bill pushed by grocers would undermine the FDA’s food safety rules, critics say

WASHINGTON – Over the past decade, Americans have been sickened by salmonella from cucumbers, listeria from Mexican cheese and E. coli from romaine lettuce. Now it appears Washington is finally getting serious about ensuring the Food and Drug Administration has the power to promptly investigate and respond to foodborne outbreaks.

Last month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced the Food Traceability Enhancement Act. The lobby representing food retailers has welcomed the bill, claiming it “improves food safety.”

There is only one problem: according to experts, the bill does the opposite. It would remove grocers, restaurants and food warehouses from much of the FDA’s rules, which are intended to help regulators quickly track down the source of a foodborne outbreak, and it would slow enforcement of the entire food safety program. which is scheduled to start in 2026, several years from now.