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Tell Lawmakers:
Fund the FDA’s Human Foods Program

NEHA requests that Congress appropriate at least $1.35 billion for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Human Foods program for FY 2026. 

The U.S. has one of the safest, if not the safest, retail and manufactured food systems in the world. The rate of food-borne disease in our nation, however, remains too high. The U.S. food industry is worth approximately $1.5 trillion, accounting for one-fifth of the U.S. economy. FDA oversees 78% of the U.S. human food supply. 

The FDA’s Human Foods Program provides resources to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) food safety programs that protect this nation’s food safety system through inspection, education and enforcement. 

Tell your Congressman:

  • Food Safety Is Performed by State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Agencies – The numerous federal agencies regulating foods (primarily FDA) rely on their SLTT counterparts to implement their food safety programs  
  • The FDA Uniform Food Safety System promotes public health – National uniform adherence with FDA retail food regulation best practices—such as the FDA Food Code and Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards)—decrease the occurrence of foodborne illness outbreaks. The FDA Federal and State Initiative and Integrated Food Safety System promote a uniform food safety system.
  • A strong, qualified environmental health workforce is necessary to meet the public health mandate around food and human food needs – Trained and credentialed personnel within SLTT food safety programs prevent adverse foodborne health outcomes through ensuring human food remains healthy and nutritious. This workforce is vital to FDA meeting its human food safety objectives. 

Congress needs to hear from their constituents that funding of FDA’s Human Foods Program is vital to ensuring state, local, tribal and territorial food safety programs remain robust and continue to keep this nation healthy and free from foodborne illness. 

Take Action Now!
Use this form to tell Congress about the importance of FDA’s Human Foods Program to your community in keeping foods safe and retail businesses thriving.