The FDA has suspended critical quality testing for Grade "A" milk and dairy products, citing staff shortages and lab closures. The agency’s Moffett Center Proficiency Testing Laboratory, responsible for ensuring consistent safety standards nationwide, can no longer support the program due to workforce cuts.
This move follows the departure of,00 employees from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of federal workforce reductions. The suspended program ensured labs could accurately detect pathogens like Cyclospora and avian influenza in dairy products.
Grade "A" milk, which adheres to strict sanitary regulations, will no longer undergo routine proficiency checks until at least September. The FDA is exploring alternative methods for future testing but has not provided specifics.
The suspension raises concerns about weakened oversight as other food safety programs, including pesticide and contaminant inspections, face similar cuts. Critics warn the decision could compromise public health protections established over a century ago.
