Anti S.654 Food Safety Administration

The Honorable (Senator First/Last Name)

Address

Address

Dear Senator Last Name;

I am writing in regard to S 654, legislation to create a new federal food safety agency. As one of the 150 million consumers of dietary supplements, I am concerned about the safety of our food, but am more opposed to this back door attempt to regulate dietary supplements like drugs.

Dietary supplements are now regulated as foods under the Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act (FD&CA). This bill contains exemption language applying to dietary supplements so that the regulation of dietary supplements would not be reassigned to the new federal food safety agency. Instead, supplements would remain under the jurisdiction of the FDA, which would not have the authority to regulate foods. Dietary supplements would have to be reclassified and regulated as drugs by the FDA.

Under the pretext of needing improved food safety protection, this bill would repeal the Dietary Supplement Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Supporters of the bill argue that the current regulatory structure for protecting consumers from food safety problems has not worked, and that a new federal bureaucracy is needed. The real issue is holding government bureaucrats at the FDA and USDA accountable for the performance of their existing food safety responsibilities. Creating another federal bureaucracy is not the solution to our food safety protection needs.

I strongly urge you to oppose this legislation. I appreciate your consideration of my views and look forward to knowing your position on this important public health access issue.

Sincerely,