Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025
Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to request access to large-scale animal farms (called concentrated animal-feeding operations) to collect samples during foodborne illness outbreaks. The FDA could sample animals, plants, water, and the surrounding environment to investigate where illnesses are coming from and protect public health. Large farms would be required to grant "reasonable access" for this sampling, and those that refuse could face penalties. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects large industrial animal farms that raise cattle, poultry, or other livestock at scale.
It also affects the FDA, the Department of Agriculture, state and local health agencies, and ultimately consumers who depend on food safety investigations. The sampling data would be shared among federal and state public health agencies to help track and prevent future outbreaks. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't been debated or voted on by the full Senate yet.
CRS Official Summary
Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025This bill provides that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may, under specified circumstances, request access to a concentrated animal-feeding operation (i.e., a stabled or confined animal-feeding operation of a specified size) to conduct microbial sampling.Specifically, the bill allows the FDA to request access if the FDA determines that sampling is necessary to facilitate an investigation of a foodborne-illness outbreak, determine the cause of an outbreak, or address other public health needs. Concentrated animal-feeding operations must provide reasonable access for sampling, including sampling of plants, animals, water, and the environment. The bill imposes penalties on operations that refuse to provide reasonable access. Data collected in sampling efforts under this bill must be shared with the Department of Agriculture and state and federal public health agencies to facilitate the detection, investigation, and prevention of foodborne illness.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.