Industry ‘Thrilled’ by Gottlieb’s Confirmation to Head FDA
The confirmation of Dr. Scott Gottlieb as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was met with approval from various sectors of the food industry. Gottlieb, a top official at the agency under President George W. Bush, was a venture partner at New Enterprise Associates, where he focused on health care investments, and a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.
“We are thrilled to now have a confirmed FDA commissioner,” said Jennifer Hatcher, chief public policy officer and SVP, government relations at Arlington, Va.-based Food Marketing Institute (FMI). “With the continued rollout and implementation of each of the rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act, FDA’s role is critical. FMI and our grocer members look forward to working with the commissioner and his team to ensure our food supply continues to be the safest in the world and that this is done in the least burdensome manner possible.”
Observed Greg Ferrara, SVP of government relations and public affairs at the Arlington-based National Grocers Association (NGA): “Ensuring America’s food supply remains the safest in the world is a top priority for NGA and its members. We look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Gottlieb and others at FDA to implement smart, science-based policies that will ensure the continued safety of our food. Additionally, NGA looks forward to working with the commissioner to address important, commonsense fixes to the menu-labeling rule so that chain independent supermarkets can implement this regulation in-store and provide consumers with the information they want in a way that also works for supermarkets, which operate so much differently than chain restaurants.”
“Scott Gottlieb is an excellent choice to lead FDA,” noted Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Grocery Manufacturers Association at the time of his nomination in March. “His experience as FDA deputy commissioner and in other key FDA positions will enable him to quickly step into this important role after his confirmation. His appointment will be good for American consumers, the safety of their food and the role of continuous innovation. The Grocery Manufacturers Association and its member companies are committed to working with the Trump Administration and Scott Gottlieb to help assure the safety of our food supply, strong science-based nutrition policies, and the integrity and effectiveness of food-labeling policies.”
“As a former FDA deputy commissioner, he brings experience that will allow for a quick transition into this role and an appreciation for the contribution of the food and beverage industry in providing millions of Americans with convenient access to nutritious, safe and affordable food,” similarly observed Alison Bodor, president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFA), in McLean, Va. “AFFI stands ready to work with the new commissioner and others in the administration to ensure sufficient federal resources are allocated to FDA’s critical food safety activities without imposing new costs on food makers and consumers through user fees.”
Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the Washington-based International Dairy Foods Association, likewise referred to Gottlieb’s background. “His experience as a physician, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former federal regulator positions him to bring a multifaceted perspective to leading the federal agency responsible for regulating the food and beverage industry,” said Dykes, adding, “We appreciate the agency’s commitment to science- and risk-based food safety policies, especially as it continues to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act regulations.”