H.R. 852 — Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025

This section (1) establishes new authority under section 425 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request access to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs, as defined in 40 C.F.R. § 122.23(b)) to conduct microbial sampling of plants, animals, water, and the environment when necessary to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks, determine outbreak root causes, or address other public health needs—with CAFOs required to provide reasonable access subject to time, place, and manner conditions that do not prevent timely sampling—and (2) adds to the list of prohibited acts under section 301 refusal to provide such access. The section limits the authority to microbial sampling only (not imposing additional requirements on USDA-regulated meat, poultry, or egg products), requires data sharing with USDA and public health agencies, and preserves existing exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act.