Employers are prohibited from retaliating or otherwise discriminating against employees who report or object to the employer’s violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Secretary of Labor oversees the administrative complaint process and may issue an order that provides damages and fees to the employee who prevails.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Homeland Security must collaborate to prepare the National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy, the goals of which include: (1) preparedness for food risks, (2) detection of food contamination, (3) responsiveness to food emergencies, and (4) recovery from food emergencies.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to designate five Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence (Centers of Excellence) to serve as resources for federal, state, and local public health professionals to respond to foodborne illness outbreaks. The Centers of Excellence must be based out of a state health department, provide information on foodborne illnesses and outbreaks, train personnel, and conduct research and outreach activities, among other things.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, is required to establish a voluntary program to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood education programs. Grants will be awarded to local educational agencies to assist the agencies with implementing the guidelines developed under the program.