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5d ago

FDA Halts Key Food Safety Testing Programs Following Workforce Cuts

The suspension of proficiency tests for Grade ‘A’ milk, bird flu, and Cyclospora highlights the impact of HHS layoffs on food safety oversight.

Sign is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, U.S., August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly//File Photo
Cows from are milked at the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn at Cornell University on December 11, 2024 in Ithaca, New York.
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Overview

  • The FDA has suspended its proficiency testing program for Grade ‘A’ raw milk and finished dairy products due to reduced capacity at its Moffett Center lab.
  • Testing programs for avian flu in dairy products and Cyclospora detection in other foods have also been paused.
  • These suspensions follow the termination of 20,000 HHS employees as part of workforce reductions under the Trump administration.
  • Proficiency testing ensures nationwide consistency and accreditation for food safety laboratories, raising concerns about public health risks.
  • The FDA is actively exploring alternative testing solutions for fiscal year 2026 and plans to update network laboratories as new strategies are developed.