FDA suspends milk quality testing amid massive HHS staff cuts
As budget cuts gut key FDA programs, food safety experts sound the alarm—raising urgent questions about what’s really in your milk and who’s left to protect it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended its proficiency testing program for grade 'A' raw milk and finished dairy products. This decision, effective from Monday, follows significant staff reductions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which encompasses the FDA. The suspension affects the agency's ability to conduct quality-control tests that ensure the safety and consistency of milk products nationwide. The internal communication cited a lack of laboratory support as the primary reason for halting the program. Grade 'A' milk refers to fluid milk meeting the highest sanitary standards.
The termination and departure of approximately 20,000 HHS employees have disrupted various food safety programs. The FDA's Moffett Center Proficiency Testing Laboratory, responsible for supporting the dairy testing program, is no longer able to provide necessary laboratory support and data analysis. An HHS spokesperson indicated that the laboratory was already set to be decommissioned before the staff cuts. However, the timing has raised concerns about the agency's capacity to maintain food safety standards. The FDA is evaluating alternative approaches for the upcoming fiscal year.
FDA food safety programs slashed amid Trump-era budget cuts and resignations
The suspension of the milk testing program is part of a broader impact on the FDA's food safety initiatives. Earlier in the month, the agency also suspended programs related to testing for bird flu in milk and cheese, as well as for pathogens like the parasite Cyclospora in other food products. These actions have raised alarms among public health experts about the potential risks to food safety and the effectiveness of the nation's food safety infrastructure. The FDA's proficiency testing programs are crucial for ensuring consistency and accuracy across the nation's network of food safety laboratories.
The Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce have included a proposed $40 billion budget cut to HHS. These reductions have led to the suspension of critical food safety programs and the resignation of key FDA officials. The head of the FDA's food division, Jim Jones, resigned in protest, citing the detrimental effects of the cuts on public health initiatives and laboratory competency. He expressed concerns that the cuts would make it "fruitless" to continue in his role under the Trump administration.
The FDA's proficiency testing programs are essential for laboratories to meet standards for accreditation. The suspension of these programs may impact the ability of laboratories to maintain their accreditation status, potentially affecting the overall quality of food safety testing. The FDA has stated that it is actively evaluating alternative approaches for the upcoming fiscal year and will keep all participating laboratories informed as new information becomes available.
The suspension of the milk quality-control testing program underscores the broader challenges faced by the FDA in maintaining food safety standards amid significant staff reductions and budget cuts. As the agency seeks alternative solutions, the potential risks to public health remain a pressing concern. The situation highlights the importance of adequate funding and staffing for critical public health programs to ensure the safety and well-being of the population.
