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FDA Suspends Food Safety Testing Program Following HHS Staff Cuts

The suspension of the Food Emergency Response Network's proficiency testing through September raises concerns over U.S. food safety oversight as routine inspections face potential delays.

Signage 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
© Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Overview

  • The FDA has suspended its Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) proficiency testing program until at least September 30 due to significant staffing reductions at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
  • FERN’s testing ensures accuracy across 170 labs that detect contaminants like Cyclospora in spinach and glyphosate in barley, critical for food safety and lab accreditation.
  • The suspension follows earlier cuts, including the halt of bird flu testing in milk, cheese, and pet food in early April, signaling broader systemic vulnerabilities.
  • FDA officials are drafting plans to pause most routine food safety inspections unless congressional funding is secured, though high-risk inspections may continue.
  • HHS staff reductions, tied to a proposed $40 billion budget cut under the Trump administration, have disrupted key FDA operations and led to the resignation of senior officials.