Should We Be Afraid of Our Food?

The Atlantic, gift article: “America’s food-safety system is being methodically dismantled by the Trump administration…The FDA is responsible for the safety of about 80 percent of the food consumed in the United States. Last year, James Jones, the highly respected head of the FDA’s human-foods division, resigned from his post, citing the “indiscriminate” firing of 89 staff members. The loss of such expertise threatens to cripple the agency’s food-safety efforts. Kyle Diamantas—who replaced Jones and now serves as the acting head of the FDA—has no scientific, medical, or public-health training. He is an attorney (and Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting companion). While employed at the law firm Jones Day, Diamantas defended Abbott Laboratories in a lawsuit alleging that the company had knowingly sold infant formula that could cause severe bowel problems. Abbott lost the suit and in August agreed to pay a $670 million settlement to resolve that case and other claims. In a statement to investors, Abbott said that the settlement is “not in any way an admission of liability” and that the company “remains confident in the safety of these products.”