FDA's Kessler opposes "direct additives" Delaney reform -- House Commerce hearing.
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
FDA's KESSLER OPPOSES DELANEY CLAUSE REFORM FOR "DIRECT ADDITIVES" at a House Commerce/Health and Environment subcommittee hearing on FDA reform on May 1. Referring to the provision in HR 3200 that replaces the Delaney clause's "zero cancer risk" standard for food and color additives, animal drugs and pesticides with a negligible or de minimus risk standard, Commissioner David Kessler, MD, asserted that since "HR 3200's safety standard...would result in the intentional addition to the diets of American consumers carcinogenic food and color additives" that have not previously been permitted, "I am not in favor of changing Delaney when it comes to direct intentional food additives." Sponsored by Rep. Scott Klug (R-Wis.), the FDA reform bill addressing foods was introduced March 29 ("The Rose Sheet" April 1, p. 1).