The National Uniformity for Food Act provides for a single set of national food safety standards and warning requirements for packaged foods.

About the Legislation


The National Uniformity for Food Act would set uniform national food safety standards that will provide all Americans with the same high level of confidence and protection.
  • The National Uniformity for Food Act will ensure consumers have access to the same accurate, science-based food safety information, regardless of where they live. This same approach was used when Congress established uniform requirements for nutrition labeling, allergen labeling, meat and poultry standards, over-the-counter medicines, medical devices and pesticide tolerances.
  • The legislation will eliminate consumer confusion and bolster confidence because the information is consistent from state to state and was formulated by the FDA, the world’s leading food safety agency.


Establishing a uniform national system will put food safety in the hands of the nation’s top food scientists and food safety experts.
  • Rapid developments in food science can result in conflicting and confusing information. The FDA is best positioned to protect consumers by reviewing the entire body of scientific evidence and issuing the best possible food safety regulations.
  • Companies are spending enormous time and resources negotiating with state regulatory agencies and trial lawyers on hundreds of food ingredient issues. This activity drains financial resources that could be used for research and development, job creation or expanded employee benefits.
  • Competing or conflicting scientific review processes are a waste of taxpayer dollars.


The legislation preserves the appropriate roles for both the state and federal government when it comes to food safety.
  • States will have a prominent role in ensuring that our national standards remain the best in the world. The bill provides an expedited process for states to petition FDA to review and consider adopting their unique state standard as a national standard. States can also apply for an exemption based on special state needs. Finally, in order to ensure that current state requirements that are not consistent with federal standards are given appropriate consideration, all these state measures would remain in effect until FDA takes action on a state’s petition.
  • States’ authority to protect public health is preserved and does not change. Under the legislation, states will continue to have authority for enforcement, sanitation inspections at local restaurants, licensing and the protection of public health in the event of a food emergency or a terrorist threat.
  • This legislation will prevent the proliferation of unjustified state food safety warning labels, such as those imposed on Californians by trial lawyers under California’s Prop. 65.