FDA halts milk safety checks amid staff cuts—dairy farmers face testing uncertainty. Critical lab oversight gap threatens industry standards.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The FDA suspended its Grade A milk proficiency testing program on April 21, 2025, citing staffing shortages from HHS workforce cuts. This critical program ensured labs nationwide produced accurate milk safety results, impacting accreditation and consistency. The move coincides with broader FDA testing suspensions (FERN, HPAI) and conflicting claims about lab decommissioning. Dairy farmers now face risks of inconsistent testing, eroded consumer trust, and pressure on state programs to fill gaps. Public health advocates warn of heightened foodborne illness risks, while transparency gaps persist between FDA and HHS narratives.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Testing freeze: FDA halted Grade A milk lab accuracy checks, jeopardizing nationwide consistency.
- Staffing cuts: 20,000 HHS jobs axed under RFK Jr., crippling FDA’s food safety oversight.
- Accreditation at risk: Labs may lose certification without federal proficiency testing.
- State pressure: Weakened federal oversight shifts burden to under-resourced state programs.
- Transparency crisis: Conflicting FDA/HHS claims about lab closures fuel distrust.
The FDA has suspended its milk quality testing program, leaving dairy farmers wondering what’s next. This sudden halt, which started April 22, comes after massive job cuts at Health and Human Services that have gutted food safety systems. Let’s face it – when the FDA stops checking the accuracy of milk testing labs, we have a serious problem.
The suspension hits the FDA’s proficiency testing program for Grade “A” raw milk and finished products – the highest standard milk in the industry. This program doesn’t test your milk directly but ensures that the nationwide labs analyze dairy samples and deliver consistent, reliable results.
An internal FDA email obtained by Reuters revealed the agency’s Moffett Center Testing Lab “can’t provide lab support for proficiency testing anymore” following the staff cuts. The FDA claims they’re “actively looking at alternatives” but haven’t given any timeline for when – or if – testing will resume.
WHAT THE HECK IS PROFICIENCY TESTING ANYWAY?
When a lab tests your milk for bacteria, somatic cells, or antibiotic residues, don’t you want confidence those results are accurate? That’s exactly what’s at stake here.
The FDA’s proficiency testing is a crucial check and balance, confirming labs are performing correctly. Without it, test results could vary significantly between labs, creating inconsistencies in how regulators evaluate your milk quality across state lines.
Passing these proficiency tests for labs participating in the Interstate Milk Shippers program is essential for keeping their accreditation. This suspension threatens their certification status if nobody soon uses alternative verification methods.
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOUR OPERATION
This testing suspension didn’t happen in isolation. The FDA suspended its Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) quality control program days earlier, citing the same workforce shortages.
Both suspensions stem from elimination of roughly 20,000 jobs at HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership. The White House is pushing to slash HHS’s budget by $40 billion – about one-third of its spending. Sound extreme? That’s because it is.
While the suspension doesn’t stop routine milk testing, it removes the crucial quality assurance that ensures accurate tests. Think of it like driving a car without checking if the speedometer works correctly – you might be fine for a while, but eventually, you’ll get in trouble.
STATE PROGRAMS FACE INCREASED PRESSURE
With federal oversight mechanisms weakened, state milk safety programs will likely scramble to fill the gap. These programs already handle permits, inspections, sample collection, and testing oversight.
But here’s the problem – how can states with widely varying resources maintain nationwide consistency without the federal benchmark? Some states have robust programs, but others struggle with limited funding and staff.
The National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS), which governs the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), now faces challenges. This framework depends heavily on consistent laboratory performance across participating states to facilitate interstate milk movement.
CONFLICTING STORIES RAISE RED FLAGS
Here’s where things get fishy. An HHS spokesperson claimed they planned to decommission the Moffett laboratory before the staff cuts. This directly contradicts the internal FDA email that blamed the suspension on reduced capacity from workforce reductions. So, what’s the real story?
Public health advocates aren’t buying it. They warn that suspending proficiency testing threatens critical safeguards and could increase the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks. Consumer groups, including the Consumer Federation of America, have doubts about any plans to shift oversight responsibilities to states.
Haven’t we learned anything from the recent detection of bird flu in dairy cattle? In early 2024, the FDA warned about the heightened dangers of consuming raw milk during HPAI outbreaks, emphasizing the importance of reliable testing protocols. The timing couldn’t be worse.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR DAIRY?
The dairy industry now faces several possible scenarios:
- Quick Resolution: The FDA might rapidly implement an alternative testing mechanism, perhaps by contracting with a private provider. This would minimize disruption to the current system.
- Extended Gap: If finding an alternative proves difficult, the suspension could continue for months. This increases the risk of inconsistencies in testing results nationwide. How would you verify that your milk meets standards if the testing labs aren’t being checked?
- Permanent Shift: The suspension could become part of a larger move away from direct federal quality assurance oversight, creating a system more reliant on state programs or industry self-assessment.
STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE NOW
While regulatory uncertainty continues, there are actions you can take to protect your operation:
Talk to your co-op or processor to understand how they respond to the FDA suspension and what additional verification measures they might implement. Are they setting up alternative testing validation?
Keep a close eye on your state dairy program. State regulatory agencies may issue guidance or implement additional measures to compensate for the suspension of the federal program.
Double down on your on-farm quality protocols. Regardless of regulatory changes, your first line of defense is your quality assurance program. When was the last time you reviewed your SOPs?
Stay connected with industry organizations like the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation, which will likely advocate for the industry during this period.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The FDA’s suspension of milk proficiency testing creates significant challenges for ensuring consistent laboratory performance nationwide. While state programs and industry initiatives provide important safety layers, losing this federal benchmark increases pressure on these systems.
For you as a dairy farmer, maintaining consumer confidence in milk safety remains paramount. By staying informed, engaging with regulatory developments, and retaining exceptional on-farm practices, you can navigate this period of uncertainty while continuing to deliver the safe, wholesome products consumers expect.
What’s clear is that this suspension exposes how budget constraints and organizational restructuring can impact critical food safety infrastructure. The question isn’t whether oversight will continue – it’s whether it’ll remain consistent, reliable, and effective in protecting consumers and your farm’s reputation.
Learn more:
- USDA’s New Milk Pricing Rules: What Dairy Farmers Need to Know – Explore how changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders are reshaping pricing formulas, composition factors, and manufacturing allowances, with implementation set for June 2025.
- USDA’s Final Milk Marketing Order Decision: What Dairy Farmers Need to Know – Dive deeper into the regulatory framework designed to stabilize milk prices and ensure fairness in milk marketing, including the critical producer referendum process.
- Canadian Dairy Dilemma: Unpacking the Controversial Milk Dumping Report and Its Industry Implications – Examine how regulatory frameworks like supply management can create unintended consequences, with lessons for dairy farmers facing changing oversight models.
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