Established in 1999 by the Consumer Federation of America, the Food Policy Institute conducts research and advocacy to promote a safer, healthier and more affordable food supply. The Institute supports:

• Continued reform of federal food safety programs, especially outdated federal meat and poultry inspection systems;

• An improved regulatory regime and mandatory labeling for genetically engineered foods;

• Changes in federal food regulations to encourage production and marketing of healthier foods;

• Reform of federal farm subsidies that increase food prices to consumers and a refocusing of farm programs to favor small family farmers;

• Increased emphasis in both public and private programs on improving nutrition and reducing childhood obesity; and

• Expanding and improving programs to reduce hunger.

The Food Policy Institute supports research that respects scientific principles, values inclusiveness and builds relationships capable of achieving change that benefits the public. Staff members routinely gather facts, analyze issues, and disseminate information to the public, legislators, regulators, and the media.

Food Policy Issue Areas

Ag Policy/Food Prices
Food and Drug Administration
Meat/Poultry Inspection
Nutrition
Other Food Safety Issues

The Institute also coordinates the highly praised National Food Policy Conference, held each year in Washington DC. The conference explores the top food and agriculture issues of the day with a diverse mix of policy makers, advocates, and scientists.

Food Policy Institute’s Key Personnel

The Institute is directed by Thomas Gremillion. Gremillion previously practiced environmental law at Georgetown University Law Center’s Institute for Public Representation, where he represented community groups and advocacy organizations in litigation against polluters and government regulators. He also served as an associate attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center in Chapel Hill, NC, where he specialized in transportation and land use issues. He oversees the research, analysis, advocacy and media outreach for the group’s food policy activities, and monitors food safety activities at USDA, FDA and in Congress, where he advocates for strong food safety protections for consumers. He also coordinates the Safe Food Coalition, a group of consumer, trade union, and foodborne illness victim organizations dedicated to reducing foodborne illness by improving government food inspection programs.

Carol Tucker Foreman, a leading national voice on food policy for 25 years, is the Institute’s Distinguished Fellow. A former executive director of CFA, Foreman oversaw food safety and nutrition programs for the Agriculture Department in the Carter Administration. She serves on USDA’s Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology. For FDA, Foreman sits on the Food Advisory Committee for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.