Why It Matters
Environmental Working Group (EWG) reported $340,000 in lobbying spending for quarter two of 2026, filed August 7. This marks a significant escalation in EWG's food safety advocacy, with spending up 63 percent from quarter one of 2026. The advocacy organization is targeting two major legislative vehicles: the Food Chemical Reassessment Act and the Farm, Food, and National Security Act.
EWG lobbied on food industry safety and labeling issues in quarter two, positioning itself at the center of a contentious debate over federal food regulation. The group is focusing on H.R. 4306, the Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025, which would re-establish the Food Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary on food chemical safety reviews. According to EWG's own analysis, nearly 99 percent of food chemicals added to commerce since 2000 entered the market through the GRAS loophole.
This legislative push reflects a broader tension. Federal preemption of state food safety laws has become a top legislative priority for the food industry, though the preemption push did not yield results in 2025. Meanwhile, state-level consumer advocacy groups achieved significant legislative victories in 2025 and 2026, including bans on specific food additives and enhanced labeling requirements for products sold in their states.
By the Numbers
EWG spent $340,000 on in-house lobbying in quarter two of 2026, up from $208,234 in quarter one. The organization also filed a separate report through ACG Advocacy LLC for $50,000 in quarter two, focusing on industrial solvents.
Three registered lobbyists are listed on EWG's filings: Scott Faber, Melanie Benesh, and Geoff Horsfield. Faber previously worked for American Rivers Inc. and spent time at the Consumer Brands Association in 2008 on food industry safety and labeling issues. Horsfield has prior government experience. Benesh has not listed prior lobbying experience with other clients. EWG's total lobbying revenue from ACG Advocacy LLC over the past year reached $1,055,785.
Broader Context
Rep. Frank Pallone introduced H.R. 4958, the Grocery Reform and Safety Act, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi reintroduced H.R. 8429, the Baby Food Safety Act of 2026. EWG also endorsed the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act, introduced by Sen. Peter Welch, and the AFFIRM Act for crop insurance reform from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
The Senate draft Farm Bill drew criticism from environmental groups for not expanding the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Reserve Program, while retaining nutrition assistance cuts from prior reconciliation legislation. A nearly $2 billion EQIP cut in the Senate Farm Bill proposal prompted Democratic amendment attempts during House Rules Committee proceedings.
The Bottom Line
EWG's quarter two of 2026 lobbying push signals the organization's commitment to reshaping federal food safety policy amid industry resistance to state-level regulatory gains. With spending up 63 percent from the previous quarter and a diversified portfolio targeting chemical safety, agricultural policy, and food labeling, EWG is positioning itself as a key player in the 2026 food safety legislative agenda. The outcome of these efforts will likely determine whether federal food regulation expands or contracts in the coming years.
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