Bill > S376

This bill, known as the Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025, provides the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with new authority to conduct microbial sampling at concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), which are large-scale livestock facilities. The bill allows the FDA Secretary to request access to these operations to collect samples from animals, plants, water, and the environment when investigating a foodborne illness outbreak or addressing public health needs. CAFOs must provide reasonable access for sampling, though they can specify the time, place, and manner of sampling, as long as they do not prevent the Secretary from conducting appropriate testing. The bill explicitly states that this authority does not impose additional requirements beyond microbial sampling for foods already regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Furthermore, the bill requires that data collected during these investigations be shared with the Department of Agriculture and other relevant state and federal public health agencies. The legislation also adds a new enforcement provision, making it a violation to refuse reasonable access for microbial sampling. This bill aims to enhance food safety by giving regulators more tools to quickly investigate and prevent potential foodborne illness outbreaks.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/376/all-info