Food Safety

I have consistently worked to make safe food a guarantee for all families. I am continuing to monitor implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which I supported in the 111th Congress and which brought the most significant reforms to our food safety laws since FDR was president. The law will help the FDA more effectively track tainted foods, better-screen imported foods, improve recall information for consumers, and speed up response time to food safety threats.

Resources

Information on the Food Safety Modernization Act

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

More on Food Safety

Schakowsky, DeLauro Introduce Legislation to Help Ensure the Food We Eat is Safe
July 10, 2025
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) reintroduced the Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025, which would require the Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that chemicals that have entered the food supply chain through loopholes or that were reviewed by the FDA decades ago are safe to eat.
Issues:Consumer ProtectionFood Safety
Jan's Plans & Pans - October 1, 2024
October 1, 2024
Video

It is great to be back in the 9th Congressional District after Congress successfully passed a continuing resolution to keep our government funded until December 20, 2024. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 341-82.

Issues:Women's IssuesWomen's HealthConsumer ProtectionFood SafetyHousingAffordable HousingInclusive Home DesignEconomy, Jobs & TaxesFederal BudgetHealth
Jan's Plans & Pans - September 16, 2024
September 16, 2024
Video

Right now, Congress has until the end of September to fund our government and avert a shutdown. It is my hope that we can quickly reach a bipartisan agreement to temporarily extend current spending levels. I will keep fighting to ensure that any continuing resolution we consider is free from poison pill policy provisions. Too much is at stake. This is not a game.

Issues:Women's IssuesPovertyConsumer ProtectionFood SafetyPrivacyOnline ProtectionHousingEconomy, Jobs & TaxesFederal BudgetVeterans
Schakowsky Leads Calls to Implement Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels
May 21, 2024
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), led nine colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the agency to prioritize the development of a mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling system. With Americans’ consumption of salt, sugar, and saturated fat far exceeding recommended levels and linked to various chronic diseases, a front-of-package nutrition labeling system would provide clear information about nutrients of concern, including salt, sugar, and saturated fat to help consumers make healthier choices. 
Issues:Consumer ProtectionFood Safety
Schakowsky Introduces Further Legislation to Ensure Our Food is Safe
March 8, 2024
Press Release
U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the Agricultural Food Chemical Reassessment Act, which requires the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reassess seven chemicals used in meat, dairy, and egg products.
Issues:Consumer ProtectionFood Safety
Schakowsky, Blumenthal Introduce New Bicameral Front-Of-Package Food Labeling Legislation to Bolster Americans’ Health
December 14, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced new bicameral legislation to provide American consumers with clear information about the nutritional content of foods and beverages. The Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness (TRUTH) in Labeling Act would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop new front-of-package labels for foods and beverages sold in the United States.
Issues:Consumer ProtectionFood Safety
Schakowsky, DeLauro, Dingell Introduce Legislation to Ban Harmful Toxics in Food Packaging
October 26, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) introduced the No Toxics in Food Packaging Act to ban bisphenol A (BPA), per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), ortho-phthalates, styrene, and antimony trioxide from being used in food packaging and processing materials because science has demonstrated that these chemicals are detrimental to human health – they can cause cancer and disrupt hormones to name a few effects.
Issues:Consumer ProtectionFood Safety
Jan's Plans & Pans - June 13, 2023
June 13, 2023
Video

Last week, House Republican leadership canceled planned votes amid a revolt by conservative members that brought votes on the House floor to a halt. Many far-right members are retaliating after Republican leadership negotiated with President Biden to raise the debt limit, avoiding a catastrophic debt default.

Issues:SeniorsSocial SecurityConsumer ProtectionFood SafetyFinancial ProtectionsHealth
Schakowsky Talks with CBS Evening News About Food Safety
February 21, 2023
Video
Right now, thousands of harmful chemicals in our food are going unchecked and the food industry is regulating itself. Rep. Rose DeLauro (CT-03) and I have previously introduced the Food Chemical Reassessment Act, which would create an 'Office of Food Safety Reassessment' at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study the safety of chemicals and would reestablish a food advisory committee. It is time we put the 'F' back in the FDA.
Issues:Consumer ProtectionFood SafetyHealth
Schakowsky Votes to Pass the America COMPETES Act
February 4, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chairwoman of Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, celebrated the House of Representatives' passage of the America COMPETES Act, a bold and transformative legislative package to supercharge American production of chips, strengthen U.S. supply chains and strengthen American manufacturing, advance U.S. scientific excellence and research and position American interest and values to win on the world stage. This package will ensure that America can outcompete any nation in the world, now and for decades to come.

Issues:LaborConsumer ProtectionFood SafetyDrug SafetyOnline ProtectionFinancial ProtectionsEnergy & EnvironmentEconomy, Jobs & TaxesCreating Good JobsEducationSTEM & Arts Education