The President’s fiscal year 2022 budget request would increase spending on food safety at the Food and Drug Administration by $134.3 million to a total of $1.6 billion. A significant portion of the FDA budget increase ($44.8 million) would go toward the “New Era of Smarter Food Safety” unveiled by the agency last year.

FDA says the enhanced “New Era” funding would fund:

• “Data modernization and enhanced technologies,” which the agency says will “strengthen our predictive capabilities, accelerate prevention, and speed traceback when contaminated foods are identified;”
• Strengthen “domestic mutual reliance” with states, under which the agency will “provide funding to states to expand efforts to modernize, harmonize, and transform the S. animal food inspection system into one that is comprehensive and prevention-oriented utilizing FSMA authorities, including the Preventive Controls for Animal Food framework;” and
• New personnel who will “focus on reducing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the food supply based on safety data.”

PFAS, sometimes called “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment, are an increasing concern for the food industry. Some scientific research has assessed the potential for the chemicals to be transferred to eggs through water or feed.