The Biden administration’s approach to economic matters is to empower Washington bureaucrats to “guide” the private sector toward outcomes the White House feels are “equitable.” Never mind that government central planners have a long and accomplished record of failure and inefficiency. Or, that, in many instances, they have no idea what they’re doing.
Consider the Food and Drug Administration and its army of experts.
On Jan. 1, a new federal regulation went into place that added sesame to the list of major food allergens that previously included eggs, milk, shellfish, peanuts and a few other items. Any products that include sesame — seeds or flour from the plant, for instance — must be labeled to alert consumers who may be allergic to the product. The FDA estimates that 1.5 million Americans may have a reaction to sesame, which can include shortness of breath, vomiting and diarrhea.
The intention, of course, was to make it easier for those with a sesame allergy to avoid problems. But the real-world application of the regulation has accomplished precisely the opposite.
In order to avoid running afoul of the FDA — facing fines or worse — many suppliers began adding sesame to products that otherwise didn’t include it. This helps them avoid repercussions — lawsuits, government fines — for potential cross-contamination between foodstuffs that contain the ingredient and those that don’t.