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Califf defends FDA's role in obesity crisis to Senate

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Senators question FDA on delayed nutrition label

regulations

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Califf highlights need for better funding for chemical

safety

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HHS director nominee RFK Jr critical of agency

By Bhanvi Satija and Christy Santhosh

Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Commissioner Robert Califf defended the agency's role in

addressing the country's obesity epidemic as he was grilled by

senators over FDA regulation of the food and beverage industry

on Thursday.

The hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education,

Labor and Pensions follows President-elect Donald Trump's

selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, to lead the Department of

Health and Human Services, the country's top health

agency. Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, has also said those at the

agency in charge of nutrition labels on food have "to go".

Kennedy has criticized popular weight-loss drugs such as

Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and called for removing

ultra-processed foods from school lunches as part of a goal to

reduce the incidence of diet-related chronic diseases.

"We have just completed the largest reorganization in FDA's

history, in no small part, so that we could take on the issues

of nutrition and chemicals in our food supply," Califf said

during testimony to the Senate committee led by Bernie Sanders.

Sanders and other senators questioned agency officials over

several regulations related to the food and beverage industry,

including a delayed proposal to require nutrition labels on the

front of products.

"According to the CDC, the rate of childhood obesity in

America has tripled since the 1970s, and from where I'm standing

here the FDA has not responded in any way with the urgency of

the crisis. How long does it take to put a bloody label on a

product?" Sanders said.

Califf said the agency was trying to do its part within its

authority and budget.

"As you know, I'll be leaving FDA (with) the change of

administrations, but I can assure you that our people at FDA

want to do more, and we need your partnership," he said.

Califf, a cardiologist and researcher, has held the role of

FDA commissioner for a second time since 2022. He previously led

the world's most influential health regulator during the Obama

administration between 2016 and 2017.

Trump has nominated surgeon and author Martin Makary to

succeed Califf as FDA Commissioner.

Califf said the research around popular new weight-loss

drugs had helped understanding of the addictive nature of some

of the foods that Americans consumed. Unlike with drugs, he

emphasized that the agency did not have insight into research

done by the food industry.

Lawmakers grilled Califf, and FDA executive James Jones, who

has been tasked with leading the agency's new human foods

program, over the use of food dyes and criticized inadequate and

complex labeling of plant-based and genetically-engineered

products.

Califf said the FDA had repeatedly asked for better funding

for chemical safety, calling it a huge priority. He added that

the agency was also trying to recruit more employees for food

manufacturing site inspections, but said it did not always have

the resources to do so.