In an effort to allow FDA to sample water, soil and environmental conditions on USDA-regulated concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), New York Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand introduced a bill (S.2958) that would provide the FDA authority to conduct microbial sampling on CAFOs as necessary for a foodborne illness outbreak investigation, determine the outbreak’s root cause or address other public health needs.

Entitled the “Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2019,” S.2958 has one cosponsor, Sen. Richard Blumenthal. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.