The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended quality control tests for a key food safety program, plans to end most routine food safety inspections, and failed to notify the public about an E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce that affected 15 states.
The FDA’s Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Proficiency Testing Program, which tests for parasites and pesticides in various foods, will no longer receive quality control checks until September 30. The program oversees testing at around 170 labs, which will be affected by the cuts.
Additionally, the FDA is planning to end most federal food safety inspections, citing that food safety should be handled at the local level. However, some “higher-risk” inspections, such as baby formula, may still be overseen by the feds. The plan has not been implemented yet and its legality is unclear.
The FDA also failed to notify the public about an E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce that affected dozens of people across 15 states. The outbreak led to severe illness, including a 9-year-old boy who suffered kidney failure. The FDA cited that the threat had passed, but it’s unclear why no notification was made.
The cuts are part of a broader trend of staffing cuts and reductions in federal agencies under President Donald Trump’s leadership, particularly with regards to the Department of Health and Human Services, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is overseeing layoffs and departures. The lack of transparency and oversight raises concerns about the impact on food safety and public health.
Note: The article has been simplified and restructured for better clarity and readability.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/fda-guts-food-safety-testing-in-latest-move-to-make-america-health-again-2000590965