Rockville, MD—If the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations has its way, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will have less cash in fiscal year 2012.

FDA could be forced to take an 11.5% budget cut, which means the agency would have to make do with $285 million less funding. Combined with the user fees it collects, FDA’s budget would be $3.7 billion.

Opponents to the cuts believe a smaller budget would make it harder for FDA to do its job, particularly with respect to food safety. Many feel that even at its current budget, FDA is underfunded.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, July 2011 (online 5/31/11)