How Industry Is Adapting to FDA's Food Shifts – FDA Watch
Wayne chats with Sarah Sorscher, Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Sarah Gallo, Senior Vice President of Product Policy and Federal Affairs at the Consumer Brands Association. You’ll hear their thoughts on the current state of foods at FDA, concerns related to the agency’s budget, impacts of the government shutdown on FDA and the Human Foods program, how federal regulation might affect state regulation, changes to the GRAS process and post-market review, how industry is adapting to evolving guidance on ultraprocessed foods, and much more.
Read Sarah Sorscher’s statement and article on the Marshall bill.
Headlines
FDA returns to work following historic government shutdown
Pharma: Richard Pazdur named new CDER director
Pharma: FDA announces next round of priority review vouchers
Devices: MD+DI analysis shows slowdown in device regulatory review process
Food: From ProPublica, FDA foreign food safety inspections hit historic low
Cosmetics: Neutrogena recalls potentially contaminated makeup wipes
Resource Links
Devices: FDA releases draft guidance that outlines agency expectations for implementing QSMR
Food: Mead John Nutrition Institute unveils resource for information on infant formula
Cosmetics: At PCPC symposium, CEO Tom Myers notes prioritization of full MoCRA implementation heading into 2026
About Our Guests
Sarah Sorscher
Sarah Sorscher is an experienced advocate with a passion for public health who fights for a safer, healthier, more transparent food system by promoting consumer safeguards with Congress, federal agencies, and state and local governments. As Director of Regulatory Affairs, she manages CSPI’s policy work related to food safety and labeling, allergens, food additives, dietary supplements, and other consumer products. Her work includes serving on federal advisory committees, testifying before Congress and federal agencies, offering technical advice to policymakers, and providing commentary to the media on consumer and food safety issues.
Prior to joining CSPI, Sarah worked on health and safety issues at Public Citizen and served as a law clerk for the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
She holds a J.D. from the Harvard Law School, an M.P.H. from Harvard School of Public Health, and a B.A. from Amherst College.
Sarah Gallo
Sarah Gallo is Senior Vice President of Product Policy and Federal Affairs at the Consumer Brands Association. In her role, Sarah oversees Consumer Brands’ policy leadership on smart regulation issues from advocacy through education to marketplace solutions.
Prior to joining Consumer Brands, she served as Vice President, Agriculture and Environment, for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. There, Sarah led the organization’s strategy across agriculture, food systems, energy, and biobased manufacturing.
Before that, Sarah held roles at CHS Inc., the National Corn Growers Association and as Agriculture Counsel with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business.
She graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in marine biology. She resides in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and two young children.
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