Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025
2/28/2025, 9:08 AMSummary of Bill HR 852
Bill 119 HR 852, also known as the "Microbial Sampling of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Act," aims to grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to conduct microbial sampling on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) when necessary for various public health reasons.The primary purpose of this bill is to allow the FDA to collect samples from CAFOs in order to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks, identify the source of the outbreak, and address other public health concerns related to these operations. This authority would enable the FDA to better protect consumers from foodborne illnesses that may originate from CAFOs.
By granting the FDA the ability to conduct microbial sampling on CAFOs, this bill seeks to enhance the agency's ability to respond to and prevent foodborne illness outbreaks, ultimately safeguarding public health. This legislation does not aim to regulate CAFOs or impose additional restrictions on these operations, but rather to empower the FDA to take necessary actions to ensure the safety of the food supply.
Congressional Summary of HR 852
Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025
This 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.
