The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's new head of food regulation, Kyle Diamantas, previously defended Abbott Laboratories in lawsuits alleging its infant formula harmed premature babies — a role that critics say raises concerns about industry influence in food safety oversight.
Christina Jewett reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Kyle Diamantas, a former corporate lawyer at Jones Day, now leads the FDA’s food division, which oversees the safety of 80% of the U.S. food supply, including infant formula.
- He previously represented Abbott Laboratories in lawsuits claiming the company failed to warn parents that its formula increased the risk of a deadly bowel disease in premature infants.
- His appointment has drawn criticism, with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn) calling it a "betrayal," while the FDA insists he will follow ethics rules and recuse himself from Abbott-related matters.
Key quote:
"The FDA’s job is to protect our babies, not the corporations that poisoned them. Appointing an Abbott lawyer to oversee food safety, which includes infant formula, is letting the fox guard the henhouse."
— Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut Democrat
Why this matters:
The FDA plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of infant formula, a product relied upon by millions of families. Abbott’s legal battles over its formula’s links to necrotizing enterocolitis, a potentially fatal disease in preterm infants, have intensified scrutiny of industry practices. The appointment of a former Abbott lawyer to regulate the industry raises concerns about conflicts of interest, regulatory capture, and the broader relationship between corporate influence and public health policy.
Learn more: US influence aids formula industry against global regulation efforts
