FDA Reduces Food Safety Testing Standards, Pursuing a New Agenda titled 'Making America Healthy Once More'
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been under scrutiny recently, following reports that it suspended quality control tests for the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Proficiency Testing Program and refused to publicize a recent E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce that affected 15 states.
According to NBC News, the FDA did not notify the public about the E. coli outbreak, assessing that the threat had passed. This decision has raised concerns about the agency's commitment to transparency and public safety.
The E. coli outbreak, which sickened dozens of people across the country, included a 9-year-old boy from Indiana who suffered severe illness and went into kidney failure.
The FDA's decision to suspend quality control tests is a direct result of staffing cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Trump administration, under the oversight of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who is overseeing a reduction in force at the HHS, has been accused of destroying the U.S. federal government and purging the federal workforce.
As of August 2025, the FDA is actively working on implementing enhanced food traceability and safety measures. However, the agency has proposed a 30-month extension to the compliance deadline for these measures, moving it from January 2026 to July 20, 2028, due to challenges in supply chain coordination and industry readiness.
If the FDA's plan to end most food safety inspections is implemented, some "higher-risk" inspections, like baby formula, might still be overseen by the federal government. Currently, the FDA already outsources some routine food inspections to dozens of states.
The FDA's actions come at a time when the agency's system for tracking injuries from drugs and car accidents is likely to be affected by the Trump administration's cuts. The CDC's system for tracking injuries is crucial for identifying and addressing public health risks.
It is unclear whether the FDA's move to end most food safety inspections would be lawful. Gizmodo will update this post if they hear back from the FDA.
Meanwhile, the FDA is in the process of transferring routine food safety inspections to state-level authorities, a transition expected to take several years and require more congressional funding. The agency is also working on implementing the Food Traceability Rule, which aims to extend traceability recordkeeping for certain foods to enable faster identification and removal of contaminated products.
The suspension of quality control tests will affect about 170 labs and last until at least Sept. 30. The FERN program tests for parasites like Cyclospora in spinach and pesticide glyphosate in barley.
The Trump administration's actions have raised concerns about the safety of the food and drink supply in the United States. As the FDA continues to face staffing cuts and funding challenges, it remains to be seen how the agency will maintain its commitment to public safety and transparency.
- The tech world, on platforms like Gizmodo, is discussing the future of the food and drink supply in the United States, raising concerns following the FDA's decision to end most food safety inspections.
- The FDA's focus has expanded beyond traditional tech domains, moving into sectors like health-and-wellness and lifestyle, with the implementation of the Food Traceability Rule aimed at ensuring food safety.
- The E. coli outbreak, despite being hidden from public view by the FDA, highlighted the importance of technology in the science of food safety, as traceability recordkeeping can help identify and remove contaminated products.
- As the future of food safety inspections transition from federal to state-level authorities, the role of technology in maintaining transparency and public safety will be crucial for the tech industry to monitor and report on.
