FDA gets power to inspect animal farms during food outbreaks
H.R. 852 — Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025 · Filed by Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) · 15 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 31, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill gives the FDA power to enter concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and collect microbial samples from animals, plants, water, and the environment during foodborne illness investigations or to address public health threats. CAFOs must grant reasonable access, though they can set reasonable conditions on timing and manner of sampling. The FDA must share data with the USDA and state/federal health agencies.
Why we flagged it
The bill expands FDA investigative power during foodborne illness crises by mandating CAFO access for microbial sampling. It is fundamentally a public health measure, not a tax or subsidy provision, and strengthens regulatory capacity rather than weakening it.
What the text implies
- CAFOs may face increased operational scrutiny and sampling costs during investigations, potentially raising compliance expenses for smaller operations.
- Data sharing with state and federal agencies could expose proprietary production information, though the bill does not explicitly address confidentiality protections.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
food safety testing laboratories; diagnostic and microbial analysis service providers