The U.S Congress is currently debating drastic cuts to federal food safety programs, including an $87 million cut to the the FDA, and a $35 million cut to the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service. The White House has warned that such cuts may force the government to furlough food safety inspectors and seriously cut back on food safety inspections. Tell Congress not to pass these dangerous cuts. Protect the American food supply now!
Dear Senator or Representative,
The drastic funding cuts to federal food safety programs currently under consideration in Congress pose a serious threat to public health in the United States. Over the past several years, repeated nationwide food poisoning outbreaks have shown that our food safety monitoring system is inadequate and needs immediate improvement.
We need more food inspectors, more food inspections, and better enforcement of food safety standards nationwide. The budget cuts currently under consideration -- $87 million slashed from the Food and Drug Administration, and a $35 million cut to the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service -- would make these necessary improvements to the federal food safety oversight system impossible.
Though these cuts may save money in the short term, if they pass, the ultimate costs to the American people may be grave. Thousands of people in the U.S. are already seriously sickened by food poisoning every year, creating millions of dollars in health care costs. If we weaken our food safety regulations even further, cases of severe food poisoning will surely increase.
As a famous American once said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Please act now to protect the American people you represent. Stop these cuts to vital food safety programs.
