On February 6, 2023, a letter authored by the American Frozen Food Institute, Association of Food and Drug Officials, Consumer Brands Association, Consumer Reports, Environmental Working Group, International Fresh Produce Association, STOP Foodborne Illness, and Western Growers was published in Food Safety News. The authors view the creation of a deputy commissioner position with line management authority over the current CFSAN and the functions of ORA’s state partnership office as an essential step forward. However, they find that the proposal does not answer the concern of the Reagan-Udall Foundation (RUF) report. The signees are concerned that organizational fragmentation will continue within the newly proposed structure. They raised many questions about the proposed structure and would like to meet with the commissioner. Among the questions raised is the question of the deputy commissioner management authority, how will ORA’s operation be transformed? Will the deputy commissioner be responsible for the formulation and execution of the entire food program budget? Will the deputy commissioner have management authority over the whole organization? Would the deputy commissioner have complete access to all ORA food-related data systems and authority to redesign ORA data collection and analysis systems to meet the needs of the Human Foods Program? @ https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/02/coalition-has-many-questions-about-how-fda-commissioner-will-protect-consumers-with-new-organizational-chart/
