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S. 4974: Making America's Food Safer Act
119th Congress · introduced 2026-07-14 · Health · Latest: Held at the desk.
federal
Official title
Making America's Food Safer Act
Plain summary
Making America's Food Safer Act This bill expands the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority to require the destruction of unsafe imported foods, share food safety information, and make use of food facility audit information. Specifically, the bill authorizes the FDA to order the destruction, without the opportunity for export, of any item that (1) is refused import into the United States; (2) violates federal law regulating food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and tobacco products; and (3) presents a significant public health concern. Before issuing a destruction order, the FDA must provide an item’s owner or consignee with appropriate due process, including notice and an opportunity to appear. If an order is issued, the item’s owner or consignee must destroy it within 90 days at their own cost. The bill also generally authorizes the FDA to share unredacted food safety information with state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities, including information related to foodborne illness tracking, recalls and outbreaks, and other topics. During a food safety incident, the FDA may disclose certain commercial information that is otherwise protected from disclosure. Finally, the bill expands the FDA’s third-party audit system to make domestic food facilities eligible for voluntary audits. (Foreign facilities are eligible under current law.) The bill also authorizes the FDA to use audit results and related certifications to analyze risks and prioritize regulatory activities (e.g., inspections) to protect public health. (This information is currently used to determine whether specific food, or food from a specific facility, is eligible for import.)
Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
Making America's Food Safer Act
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)
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Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] · 2 cosponsors
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Words on this page, explained (2)
- Appropriation
- Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
- Bill
- A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119s4974.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/s>
Record fed-us-cong119-s4974 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills