Opinion
Since late January, the Food and Drug Administration’s food division has faced significant slowdowns. This has put the safety of Americans’ food at risk, according to current FDA employees.
The Human Foods Program (HFP) oversees a large part of the U.S. food supply. This includes inspecting factories that make infant formula, responding to foodborne illness outbreaks, and coordinating food recalls. They research food additives and enforce bans on harmful substances. Basically, they work to keep our food safe.
FDA inspectors monitor nearly 300,000 food-related facilities. More than half are based outside the U.S. They also test food for things like lead, bacteria, and pesticides. This testing is part of routine checks and specific investigations.
On January 23, HFP staff discovered that their government credit cards were frozen indefinitely. This was part of an executive order from the White House that stopped all government credit card use for 30 days. The freeze has made it difficult for staff to buy food samples for testing or essential equipment needed for their work. Some subscriptions to scientific journals are also being canceled.
With staff cuts and job changes at the agency, those who remain feel they can’t do their jobs effectively. Employees are alarmed about their inability to respond to new outbreaks. Some worry that if this situation continues, food testing may completely stop. This poses a serious threat to public health.
“We’re doing less testing overall, which could allow dangerous products with metals or bacteria to reach people,” said one anonymous FDA scientist. “With fewer resources and staff, we can’t ensure public safety as we should.”
After the credit card freeze, employees were told they could request emergency exemptions for purchases. However, this process is complicated, and approvals can take weeks. Time is crucial in outbreak situations, so delays could be detrimental.
Experts agree this situation is worrying. They noted that the food program was already struggling with a limited budget before these recent changes. Cuts to essential teams for rapid outbreak responses are only worsening the situation.
“If there’s another foodborne outbreak, there will be fewer inspectors on the ground to ensure dangerous products are removed from stores,” said Steven Mandernach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
Former FDA officials have pointed out that the food program has been underfunded for years compared to the medical products side, which relies more on industry fees. This leads to a chronic lack of resources that has only gotten worse.
Michael Taylor, another former FDA official, stated that the food program is unlikely to improve with budget cuts and staff reductions. “It’s like another blow to the agency’s ability to function,” he said, highlighting the severe long-term consequences.
Consumer Reports has raised concerns about the FDA’s austerity measures. Experts warn that if these cuts continue, the FDA won’t be able to provide essential oversight of our food supply. This could lead to more outbreaks and recalls, leaving consumers unprotected.
Some FDA employees feel it’s important to share what’s happening. “Our ability to test for contaminants is seriously weakened,” said one employee. “People need to know how bad this is. Public awareness could lead to pressure for change.”
Check out this related article: Boosting Europe’s Food Security: The Hidden Potential of Invasive Species and Forgotten Crops
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