United States: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the suspension of its quality control program for testing milk and dairy products, citing significant staffing reductions within its food safety and nutrition division. An internal email from the Division of Dairy Safety confirmed that the proficiency testing for Grade “A” raw milk and finished dairy products officially ended on Monday, as reported by The Hills.
Workforce Reductions Trigger Program Shutdown
This move follows the termination of thousands of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees under the Trump administration, which included layoffs within the FDA. While roles related to food and drug safety inspections were reportedly protected, many others were eliminated. The FDA is now recruiting contractors to fill the gaps left by permanent staff departures.
Bird Flu and Parasite Testing Also Stopped
The FDA suspended its programs that tested dairy products for avian influenza in both milk and cheese while also discontinuing parasite examinations for dangerous food-borne Cyclospora. Such programs formed a key element of wider food safety strategies to defend public health.
Oh yeah who needs to test milk and other dairy products smh….what could possibly go wrong https://t.co/TTrhEoXqM8 pic.twitter.com/Fi9oAwyXfZ
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) April 22, 2025
Budget Cuts Behind the Disruptions
The program suspensions emerged after the Trump administration presented a federal budget plan to reduce billions from healthcare departments focused on food safety oversight, as reported by The Hills.
Public Health Concerns on the Rise
The cessation of these programs threatens public health because it enables unseen contaminants to enter dairy products which consumers regularly buy. Public health protection may suffer substantial deterioration when the FDA lacks sufficient staffing along with necessary funding according to its critics.