McKinley Urges FDA to Enhance Transparency to Restore Public Trust
Washington, D.C. — Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (W.Va.-01) today questioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf about FDA’s role in the baby formula supply shortage during the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Watch Rep. McKinley remarks here
“American families are struggling. Along with the 40-year record high inflation, spiking food prices and record high gas prices, parents are now faced with a new crisis: a shortage of baby formula,” said Rep. McKinley.
“There is no question, we must put families first. We need answers from the FDA about their failure to act urgently and provide basic transparency surrounding the production of baby formula before it became a crisis impacting families,” said Rep. McKinley.
Rep. McKinley’s remarks as prepared:
"To FDA Commissioner Califf: The Abbott plant is just one example of what happens when government agencies and private sector companies do not get out front and disclose safety issues that impact public health.
"Last week, a statement put on social media that “Multiple inspections showed no issues at the Abbott plant.” And that the FDA bill we passed last week was unnecessary. I emphasize – this statement was sent just last week all across the country.
"Documentation of these violations reported during the last several FDA inspections at the plant that firmly establish there were serious problems at the plant that could potentially result in a recall and a plant closing. Problems that escalated into a public health crisis.
"Yet, both the FDA and the Abbott companies have remained, curiously, silent.
I remind you, the statement on social media was sent just last week, saying the government was wrong – there were no problems there.
"There are consequences when this type of misinformation is not rebutted. And the public continues to lose confidence in government. And we in Congress did not hear about the scope of this issue until early May and the Administration seems clearly caught off guard."
Original source can be found here.
