Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna sent a letter Wednesday to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accusing the agency of using COVID-era rules to permit incorrect labels on food at grocery stores.
The Daily Caller first obtained a copy of the letter, which is address to Dr. Donald Prater — who directs the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition — and criticizes the center’s Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling for its “temporary” policy that eases food labeling requirements.
The rule provides “flexibility for manufacturers to use existing labels, without making otherwise required changes, when making minor formula adjustments due to unforeseen shortages or supply chain disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The guidance was put into place in May 2020, but Luna states in the letter that the COVID-19 pandemic is over and that Americans have a right to know what is in their food.
“It is frankly unacceptable that the FDA continues to use the long-over pandemic as an excuse to allow incorrect food labels at the grocery store. The FDA has a very clear responsibility to inform the public about the safety of our food supply, and their slothfulness puts many families at risk,” Luna told the Caller before sending the letter. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, GOP Lawmakers Call For Details On Migrant Shelters)
Here Is What Is Asked In The Letter:
- Why did you extend the temporary food labeling guidance until November 7, 2023 even though the Public Health Emergency ended on March 11, 2023?
- Do you plan to extend the temporary food labeling guidance after November 7, 2023?
- What factors, and what stakeholders, drove your decision to issue an extension in March and what factors would you evaluate for any future extension?
- Please provide a list of what companies and/or products substituted ingredients and what ingredients were substituted.
READ THE LETTER HERE:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
“I am especially concerned about the mislabeling of products containing toxic food dyes and additives linked to health problems. American families should have the basic courtesy to know if these harmful ingredients are in their groceries. It’s high time the FDA stop misleading the public with ancient COVID rules and do its job!” she added. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Introduces Resolution To Remove Adam Schiff From The House)
Luna called for a response to her questions by Sept. 27, 2023.