One of the most contested areas in our food system is around the appropriate regulation of food production. A strong food safety regulatory system should protect workers, consumers, the environment, and public health. Too often, food industry influence has weakened food safety protections, whether through rules to prevent contamination, the accelerated introduction of new food technologies, or risky food additives to animal feed.
IATP has analyzed and advocated for strong food safety protection policies within global institutions and international trade agreements, and at the national and state level. In particular, we have worked for strong protections for the introduction of new food technologies like nanotechnology or synthetic biology; the presence of chemical contaminants in farm fertilizer, the use of antibiotics and arsenic within animal feed; and in the need for adequate public funding and oversight of food safety rules that serve the public interest, not corporate bottom lines.
