FDA suspends milk quality testing amid budget cuts raising safety concerns

USA – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended its milk quality-control testing program, effective April 21, 2025, due to significant staffing and budget reductions.

This decision, linked to the Trump administration’s push to shrink the federal workforce, has sparked widespread concern about the safety of the nation’s dairy supply.

The suspension affects the FDA’s Proficiency Testing Program for Grade “A” raw milk and finished dairy products, which ensures the highest sanitation standards. 

An internal email from the FDA’s Division of Dairy Safety, reviewed by Reuters, stated that the Moffett Center Proficiency Testing Laboratory can no longer support testing and data analysis.

This follows the termination or resignation of approximately 20,000 employees from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the FDA, as part of broader federal downsizing efforts.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary addressed the issue, saying, “We are working to transfer the testing program to another laboratory to ensure continuity.” 

Despite this assurance, the temporary halt has raised alarms among public health experts. 

The suspension weakens food safety oversight, particularly for detecting pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, which could increase the risk of foodborne illnesses, especially for vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

The timing of the suspension is particularly concerning given recent challenges in the dairy industry. 

Programs monitoring avian flu in milk and cheese have also been paused, according to a report by MSNBC, further straining the FDA’s ability to ensure product safety. 

“This is a step backward for public health,” said Dr. Sarah Thompson, a food safety expert at Georgetown University, in an interview. 

She emphasized that consistent testing is critical to maintaining consumer trust in dairy products.

The FDA has pledged to protect the safety of the pasteurized milk supply, and is actively seeking a new lab to resume testing. 

However, the disruption has drawn criticism from consumer advocacy groups, who argue that budget cuts should not compromise essential safety programs. 

The suspension also follows other FDA setbacks, including a nearly three-year delay in implementing rapid food tracing requirements, as reported by The New York Times.

As the nation awaits the restoration of the testing program, experts urge consumers to stay informed and cautious, highlighting the broader implications of reduced federal oversight on food safety.

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