Robert M. Califf, M.D., M.A.C.C., Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recently published a statement about his intent to evaluate the agency’s Human Foods Program. Per Dr. Califf’s request, the Reagan-Udall Foundation will assess the Office of Food Response and Policy (OFPR), the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), and relevant parts of the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA).
In his statement, Dr. Califf assures the public that the U.S. food supply is safe. However, due to stresses placed on the nation’s food systems and supply chain that have emerged in recent years, Dr. Califf believes it is necessary to address fundamental questions about the inspection activities, structure, function, funding, and leadership of FDA’s Human Foods Program. The decision to evaluate FDA’s food regulatory structure follows the recent infant formula safety and supply crises, which led to national scrutiny of FDA.