Scared Of Food Poisoning? Let FDA Into Factory Farms, Cory Booker Says

NEWARK, NJ — Are you scared of getting food poisoning? Give federal inspectors more access to factory farms, a U.S. senator from New Jersey says.

On Wednesday, Booker announced that he is introducing the bicameral Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act in the Senate. If it becomes law, the bill would grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the ability to take samples from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) – also known as “factory farms” – during outbreaks of foodborne illnesses such as E. coli and Salmonella.

The full text can be found here. A companion bill was re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year.

Here’s why the proposed law is needed, according to Booker, who lives in Newark and is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry:

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six Americans fall victim to foodborne diseases each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. The CDC also reports that many of these foodborne illnesses are caused by bacteria and other microbes originating in animal agriculture. Further, over 55 percent of foodborne Salmonella illnesses are attributed to animals and animal products. And the harmful bacteria from animal production facilities can contaminate fields of produce, posing an ongoing threat to consumers.”

Booker continued:

“For example, during a 2018 romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak investigation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traced the strain of outbreak E. coli to an irrigation canal near a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) with 100,000 cattle. The FDA also determined that nearby cattle were likely the source of E. coli outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce in 2019. The extensive use of antibiotics in animal agriculture could also contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, further endangering public health. CAFOs exacerbate these issues with sewage accumulation and runoff, along with a significant volume of antibiotic use.”

New Jersey hasn’t been a stranger to foodborne illness alerts in the recent past.

In February, more than 50,000 pounds of ready-to-eat sausage products were recalled nationwide – including New Jersey – due to a possible Listeria contamination. Read More: NJ Sausage Recall Due To Possible Listeria Contamination, USDA Says

In March, boneless beef chuck sold in New Jersey was recalled because it may have been tainted with E. coli bacteria. The problem was discovered when federal food inspectors conducted routine testing of ground beef and the sample confirmed positive for the bacteria. Read More: Beef Recalled In NJ Due To E. Coli (What We Know)

Booker said that despite the dangers posed to public health by the animals in the country’s food system, public health agencies like the FDA face limitations in their ability to “fully investigate and understand the problem,” since they lack the authority to enter farms and conduct microbial sampling.

The animal industry has also impeded investigators from accessing farms during outbreaks which hinder their efforts to identify the source of outbreaks and develop preventive measures, the senator said.

“This bicameral legislation is a necessary step towards addressing the threats posed by foodborne illnesses stemming from animal agriculture and ensuring better transparency in our food system,” Booker argued.

“By empowering our public health agencies to investigate and respond to outbreaks effectively, we can reduce the incidence of foodborne diseases, promote public health and save lives,” he added.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who introduced the bill in the House, said it is “clear that corporate consolidation has negatively impacted the safety of our nation’s food.”

“This is compounded by a weak and disempowered FDA, which has few tools to hold corporations accountable, investigate outbreaks, and get contaminated food off the market. Under current law, multinational corporations have the power to stop an FDA foodborne illness investigation in its tracks,” DeLauro said.

Not everyone is on board with the proposed law.

Some critics of the bill have argued that while finding the original source of outbreaks can be helpful in some industries, the safety of beef products is best controlled at the processing level – not the feedlots.

“The act, frankly, appears to be a solution in search of a problem,” a food industry representative wrote after the House version of the bill was introduced in June. “In my opinion, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has done an excellent job of regulating food safety into the beef industry, and there is no apparent need for additional FDA interference.”

Other pundits and experts have previously questioned the ability of the FDA to carry out its own investigations. Current and former officials and industry professionals used terms like “ridiculous,” “impossible,” “broken,” “byzantine” and “a joke” to describe the state of food regulation at the agency, a 2022 Politico report stated.

The latest version of the Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act hasn’t come up short when it comes to supporters, however.

Booker’s announcement on Wednesday got a resounding thumbs-up from Sarah Sorscher, director of regulatory affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

“These farms are part of the food system, and they can be a source of illness,” Sorscher said. “They shouldn’t be allowed to slam the barn door shut when public health investigators come looking for answers.”

The legislation has also been endorsed by the following organizations: Antibiotic Resistance Action Center at The George Washington University, Center for Food Safety, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Environmental Working Group, Food Animal Concerns Trust, Food and Water Watch, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Stop Foodborne Illness.

Learn more about food poisoning symptoms and causes at the CDC website.

It isn’t the first time in recent history that Booker – one of the most-well-known vegans in New Jersey – has launched a legislative crusade against the nation’s food industry. He’s also campaigned on issues such as factory farm regulation, biogas production, beef labeling practices and access to healthy foods.

• See Related: Time To Fix A 'Broken' U.S. Farm System, Sen. Cory Booker Says
• See Related: Cory Booker Continues His Beef With The Beef Industry
• See Related: From Poop To Power: U.S. Senator Tells Feds To Rethink 'Biogas' Plans
• See Related: When A Twinkie Is Cheaper Than An Apple: Booker Holds Farm Bill Forum

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