FDA Suspends Milk Quality Testing Program Under HHS Secretary Kennedy

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended its quality control program for testing milk and dairy products, according to Reuters reporting. The decision comes under the leadership of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was appointed by President Donald Trump following the 2024 election. The suspended program previously ensured that food safety laboratories maintained consistent standards for Grade "A" milk and other dairy products.

The FDA's Moffett Center Proficiency Testing Laboratory, which oversaw the testing program, cited an inability to continue providing laboratory support for proficiency testing and data analysis. This change occurs alongside workforce reductions within the FDA's food safety and nutrition division. The suspension is part of a broader scaling back of food safety operations, including the reported ending of routine food safety inspections designed to detect harmful contaminants.

The changes at FDA align with the Trump administration's stated goal of reducing the size of the federal government to increase efficiency. HHS, the FDA's parent agency, has experienced significant staff reductions in recent months. Kennedy, who campaigned on a platform that included the slogan "Make America Healthy Again," has implemented various policy changes since assuming leadership of the department.

In addition to the changes in food safety testing, Secretary Kennedy has reportedly focused on other initiatives including a study on autism and changes to food ingredients. The FDA has not provided additional information about alternative measures that might replace the suspended testing program or how safety standards will be maintained. These developments represent significant shifts in federal food safety oversight procedures compared to previous administrations.