Press Releases
Latta to FDA: Exclude Grocery Stores from Excessive Regulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. ,
July 28, 2011
Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) led a letter sent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in opposition to a proposed rule that would require grocery stores to implement the same labeling standards as restaurants and food establishments. The letter was signed by 22 of his colleagues.
“I encourage the FDA to make this change to their proposed rule, as it is important to prevent more regulatory costs at a time of rising food prices and shrinking household grocery budgets,” said Congressman Bob Latta. The FDA published a proposed rule to implement Nutrition Labeling of Standard Menu Items at chain restaurants with 20 or more locations, as included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The proposed rule expands the term “Restaurants and Similar Retail Food Establishments” to include grocery stores, imposing an estimated $300 million burden on grocery stores according to the Food Marketing Institute. According to the FDA’s own cost analysis, grocery store chains would incur a disproportionate cost to comply with the proposed rule since prepared foods varies among store locations and typically aren’t standardized. Currently, more than 95 percent of foods sold at grocery stores already display nutrition information. Read Congressman Latta’s letter to the FDA, here. |