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A bill to provide the Food and Drug Administration with authority to conduct microbial sampling on concentrated animal feeding operations as necessary to facilitate a foodborne illness outbreak investigation, determine the root cause of an outbreak of foodborne illness, or address other public health needs.
2/4/2025, 11:56 AM
Summary of Bill S 376
CAFOs are large-scale facilities where animals are raised in high densities, often leading to increased risk of foodborne illnesses. By allowing the FDA to conduct microbial sampling on these operations, the agency can better understand and prevent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses that may originate from CAFOs.
This bill is crucial for protecting public health and ensuring the safety of the food supply. It empowers the FDA to take proactive measures in investigating and addressing potential sources of foodborne illnesses, ultimately benefiting consumers and the agricultural industry as a whole.
Congressional Summary of S 376
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.
