The Reagan-Udall Foundation is looking to collect perspectives and experiences on the Food and Drug Administration’s human foods program through a new “Stakeholder Portal.”

The Reagan-Udall Foundation’s independent expert panel has been charged with evaluating the structure, leadership, authorities, resources, and culture of the FDA’s human foods program.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf announced the review in May while a congressional committee was questioning him about an outbreak of cronobacter infections linked to infant formula from Abbott Nutrition. The agency was under fire for slow response to the situation and disorganization. Some people have called for a reorganization of top positions at the FDA.

The Reagan-Udall panel is expected to provide recommendations that would equip the FDA to carry out its regulatory responsibilities, strengthen its relationships with state and local governments, and secure the nation’s food supply for the future.

The review officially launched on Sept. 8, and is scheduled to culminate 60-business-days later on Dec. 6, in a report to Califf.

The Foundation has also announced a public meeting of its food-focused independent panel scheduled for Sept. 29-30.

“The Expert Panel wants to hear directly from stakeholders,” said Jane E. Henney, MD, and chair of the foods independent panel. “We want to hear firsthand observations about both the strengths and challenges the program faces as well as ideas on how to best prepare for the regulatory landscape of the future.” 

The portal allows stakeholders to share their insights about what is working in FDA’s human foods program, the challenges it faces, and suggestions to improve program operations. 

Comments received through the Stakeholder Portal will be shared with the Independent Expert Panel charged with generating the recommendations for FDA. 

The Stakeholder Portal can be found here.

Public Meeting
The Reagan-Udall Foundation will facilitate a public meeting of the Independent Expert Panel on food. The invited stakeholders will provide feedback on critical topics such as nutrition initiatives, food safety, intra-federal relations, federal-state relationships, resources, and positioning FDA for the future. A limited number of seats are available to stakeholders who wish to observe the in-person meeting in Washington, DC. There will also be an audio stream available. 

Interested stakeholders can register here.

about the foundation: According to its website, the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration is an independent 501(c)(3) organization created by Congress “to advance the mission of the FDA to modernize medical, veterinary, food, food ingredient, and cosmetic product development, accelerate innovation, and enhance product safety.”

The Foundation embodies FDA’s vision of collaborative innovation to address regulatory science challenges of the 21st century and assist in the creation of new, applied scientific knowledge, tools, standards, and approaches the FDA needs to evaluate products more effectively, predictably, and efficiently, and thereby enhance the FDA’s ability to protect and promote the health of the American public. The Foundation serves as a crucial conduit between FDA and the public, providing a means for FDA to interact directly with stakeholders, including industry and consumers. The Foundation does not participate in regulatory decision-making or offer advice to FDA on policy matters.