Casten, Durbin Demand FDA Division of Food Processing Science and Technology Remain in Illinois
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led members of the Illinois delegation in a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary expressing concern about the proposed removal and relocation of FDA Division of Food Processing Science and Technology staff from Illinois—where it is currently located at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s (IIT) Institute of Food Safety and Health (IFSH) in Bedford Park—to the Washington, D.C. area.
“Such a decision would weaken our global leadership in the food space by eliminating the benefits of this co-location and collaboration with longstanding partners in academia and industry,” the lawmakers wrote. “We request that FDA maintain its DFPST operations in Illinois and continue to foster its relationship with IFSH in the state.
IFSH is a food science collaborative research consortium involving IIT, the FDA, and the food industry. Its goal is to advance food safety, defense, and nutrition through research, sharing knowledge, and innovative solutions. IFSH plays a critical role in the federal government and industry's research in many important food categories such as infant formula safety, fresh produce safety, contamination prevention strategies in food and packaging, and curating science to help develop regulatory guidance moving forward.
“By allowing the food industry, academia, and FDA to partner directly, IFSH fuels proactive prevention of food safety issues,” the lawmakers continued. “Breaking or diminishing that consortium model would slow crisis response, threaten public safety, and ultimately lead to higher costs in the long run.”
In addition to Rep. Casten and Sen. Durbin, the letter was signed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Reps. Danny K. Davis, Bill Foster, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Schneider, and Lauren Underwood.
A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.
Dear Commissioner Makary:
We write to express our concerns over the reported consideration of the removal and relocation of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Division of Food Processing Science and Technology (DFPST) staff and operations out of Illinois - where it is currently located at Illinois Institute of Technology’s (IIT) Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) - to the Washington, D.C. area. Such a decision would weaken our global leadership in the food space by eliminating the benefits of this co-location and collaboration with longstanding partners in academia and industry. We request that FDA maintain its DFPST operations in Illinois and continue to foster its relationship with IFSH in the state.
In 1988, FDA established its first Center of Excellence at Illinois Institute of Technology. Since that time, IFSH has developed into a one-of-a-kind applied food science research consortium comprised of the IIT, FDA, and companies in the food industry. In collaboration with FDA, IIT provides stakeholders with the opportunity to develop and exchange knowledge, experience, and expertise in the areas of food safety, food defense, and nutrition. IFSH is strategically located in the Chicago region - one of the world’s leading food and beverage industry hubs - and is recognized as a global leader in food science research, advancing innovations in food safety, food defense, food processing, and nutrition. Due to the success of this model, FDA has established additional centers nationwide, focusing on other critical aspects of its mission.
By bringing together the federal government, a major research university, and private industry, IFSH produces a significantly greater return on federal investment, enabling FDA to achieve more with less by partnering directly with industry and IIT and saving taxpayer dollars through greater government efficiency. By allowing the food industry, academia, and FDA to partner directly, IFSH fuels proactive prevention of food safety issues. Breaking or diminishing that consortium model would slow crisis response, threaten public safety, and ultimately lead to higher costs in the long run.
The 2022 powdered infant formula crisis and the 2022 avian flu outbreak in cattle, in which IFSH assisted with research and helped inform safety protocols, prevention strategies, and regulatory guidance, are recent examples of the strength of this collaboration and its ability to work together to better understand how to protect the American people. IFSH, FDA, DFPST, and industry partners are collaborating to enhance prevention strategies through research and technological advancements, ensuring that the food and beverages we consume are safe for everyone.
For these reasons, we reiterate our request that FDA refrain from relocating the DFPST to Washington D.C.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
###