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WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is suspending a crucial quality control program designed to ensure the accuracy of tests for fluid milk and other dairy products, according to an internal agency email viewed by Reuters. The suspension stems from reduced capacity within the FDA’s food safety and nutrition division.
This move marks another significant disruption to the nation’s food safety oversight, following the departure or termination of 20,000 employees from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FDA’s parent agency. These workforce reductions are part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to decrease the size of the federal government. The Trump administration has also proposed budget cuts of $40 billion for the agency.
The internal email, sent Monday morning from the FDA’s Division of Dairy Safety to “Network Laboratories,” stated that the agency’s proficiency testing program for Grade “A” raw milk and finished products would be suspended effective immediately. Grade “A” milk adheres to the highest sanitary standards.
The email explained that the suspension was necessary because the FDA’s Moffett Center Proficiency Testing Laboratory, responsible for this quality control aspect within the food safety division, “is no longer able to provide laboratory support for proficiency testing and data analysis.”
This suspension follows other recent cutbacks. Earlier this month, the FDA also suspended programs, both existing and under development, focused on ensuring accurate testing for bird flu in milk and cheese, as well as for pathogens like the parasite Cyclospora in other food items.
The FDA’s proficiency testing programs play a vital role in maintaining consistency and accuracy across the national network of food safety laboratories. These labs also depend on passing these quality control tests to meet accreditation standards.
However, an HHS spokesperson offered a different perspective, stating that the Moffett laboratory was already scheduled to be decommissioned before the recent staff cuts. The spokesperson clarified that while the proficiency testing program would be temporarily paused during the transition to a new laboratory facility, routine testing of dairy products would continue uninterrupted.
The FDA acknowledged the disruption in the email, stating, “The FDA is actively evaluating alternative approaches for the upcoming fiscal year and will keep all participating laboratories informed as new information becomes available.”
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information reported by Reuters on April 21st, citing an internal FDA email and statements from an HHS spokesperson regarding events related to the Trump administration. Information regarding government programs and staffing levels can change. While this article reflects the information provided in the source, the current status of the testing programs and workforce may have evolved since the original report.
