FDA Oversight Part II: Responsibility for the Infant Formula Shortage May 11, 2023

Testimony | In Person

INTRODUCTION

Chairwoman McClain, Chairman Comer, Ranking Member Porter, Ranking Member Raskin, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify about the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s or the Agency’s) work on infant formula. FDA is committed to doing everything we can within our authorities to help avoid future supply shortages and ensure parents and caregivers have access to an abundant supply of safe and nutritious infant formula. To that end, we are taking significant actions to continually strengthen our own operations and working across the government to optimize supply chains and access, while holding industry accountable.

BACKGROUND

The United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world. Most people in the United States eat their food without having to give much thought to safety and without encountering any safety issues, which reflects the effectiveness of our current food safety system. Indeed, independent experts have recognized the U.S. food supply as being among the safest in the world. For example, The Economist publishes an annual report that measures the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), which considers food affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation, across 113 countries. In the 2022 GFSI Report, the United States received its highest ranking for the “food quality and safety” category—ranking third in the world in this category behind Canada and Denmark.  The report states this ranking is supported by the United States’ score of 100 percent on several indicators in this category, including food safety and nutritional standards.  Further, the report notes that the United States has moved up 25 positions for the food safety indicator since 2012 and is now tied for first.

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