MEDIA ADVISORY: Sanders Leads Hearing on the FDA, Diabetes & Obesity Epidemics, and Taking on the Greed of the Food & Beverage Industry

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today announced that the committee will hold a hearing this Thursday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m. ET titled, "What Is the FDA Doing to Reduce the Diabetes and Obesity Epidemics in America and Take on the Greed of the Food and Beverage Industry?"

"In America today, we have an obesity epidemic and a diabetes epidemic that we must address. We cannot continue to allow the food and beverage industry to put their profits ahead of the health and wellbeing of the American people," said Sanders. "Nearly 30 years ago, the FDA and Congress had the courage to take on the tobacco industry, whose products killed more than 400,000 Americans every year. Now we must act with that same courage to take on the greed of the food and beverage industry that is enticing children to eat food loaded up with sugar, salt, and saturated fat purposely designed to be overeaten."

In April, Sanders introduced the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act - legislation that would enact a federal ban on junk food advertising targeted towards children and would require the FDA to put strong warning labels on products high in added sugar, salt and saturated fat. As HELP Committee Chairman, Sanders is also leading the fight to substantially reduce the price of diabetes and anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Details
What: HELP Committee hearing titled, "What Is the FDA Doing to Reduce the Diabetes and Obesity Epidemics in America and Take on the Greed of the Food and Beverage Industry?"
When: 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, December 5, 2024
Where: Room 562, Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing will also be livestreamed on the HELP Committee's website and on the senator's socials.
Who: Senate HELP Committee Members. Witnesses include:

• Robert Califf MD, Commissioner, FDA
• Jim Jones, Deputy Commissioner, Human Foods Program, FDA