John R. Cady

Some congressional leaders and other commentators have argued that the government’s system of food regulation is divided into too many separate agencies, none of which have the overall authority or capacity to adequately provide safeguards for America’s food supply. These critics advocate the creation of a central government food regulation agency. In the following viewpoint, John R. Cady argues that such a reform would do little to improve food safety. He contends that the existing regulatory system, in which food companies and various regulatory agencies cooperate in preventing unsafe foods from reaching consumers, has been effective because food manufacturers and sellers have a vested interest in preserving food safety. Cady is president of the National Food Processors Association, a scientific and trade association that conducts research...