Not good enough

The FDA's budget has failed to impress. The teleconference with FDA officials today featured several reporters asking whether the FDA has enough money to overcome its oft-observed shortcomings. Agency officials answered indirectly, stating that momentum was clearly preserved in the fiscal year 2009 budget to make food safety gains despite the lean dollars. Here is the take from the Grocery
Manufacturers Association, who argue for greater public funding and no new "food taxes" to pay for food safety oversight:

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) issued the following statement by Cal Dooley, GMA president and CEO, in response to President Bush’s 2009 FDA food safety budget proposal:

“The food industry has made significant new investments in food safety to meet the challenges of today’s evolving global market and we are doing our part to ensure consumers have full confidence in the safety of the foods they buy. Now, Congress must make a commensurate investment in FDA's food-related programs so that the FDA has the resources it needs to fulfill its critical food safety mission. “The President's proposal to increase FDA food-related spending by $32 million does little more than cover the cost of inflation and falls short of what is ultimately needed to make certain FDA has the tools it needs to get the job done. However, we are confident that Congress will provide the necessary resources to rebuild FDA's scientific capacity. “America enjoys the world's safest food supply, but rising imports and changing consumer preferences pose new challenges for the food industry and for the FDA. Like national defense, highways and bridges, food safety is a benefit every American has a right to expect. We urge the Administration and Congress to increase FDA funding from general revenue and reject any new food taxes - especially at a time of economic uncertainty.”