A coalition of more than 60 food trade associations - including the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), National Grocers Association (NGA), Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) - has written a letter urging the US Senate and House of Representatives to adequately fund the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fiscal 2017 budget and not depend on taxes and fees assessed on industry.
The letter says, in part, “As consumers continue to cope with a period of prolonged economic recovery and food makers and retailers struggle with fluctuating commodity prices, the creation of new food taxes or regulatory fees would mean higher costs for food makers and lead to higher retail food prices for the most vulnerable consumers.”
The letter says, in part, “As consumers continue to cope with a period of prolonged economic recovery and food makers and retailers struggle with fluctuating commodity prices, the creation of new food taxes or regulatory fees would mean higher costs for food makers and lead to higher retail food prices for the most vulnerable consumers.”
- KC's View:
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Let's face it. Taxpayers are going to pay one way or the other - either through higher prices prompted by taxes and fees, or just higher taxes to pay for the federal budget line that covers food safety issues.
Which probably means that the question of food safety will end up being a political football, with the debate focusing on funding and not consumer safety.
