Good morning Reader,
I woke up to some news that I thought you would be especially interested in.
Due to recent budget cuts and firings, the FDA has suspended its quality and safety testing of milk.
What it sounds like is happening is that a major laboratory that performs quality testing will be closed ahead of schedule. This lab was planned to close eventually, but there is no interim lab, and the new lab is not yet ready. This means right now, there is a reduction in the ability to test milk or to assure quality of that testing.
As someone who spent 10 years on the technology and administration side of massive clinical laboratories, this is extremely alarming and sloppy. Moving labs is not like packing a U-Haul full of clothes and dishes. Laboratory equipment is extremely delicate and sensitive, and if anything is moved, the whole system needs to be retested and then validated to ensure that testing is accurate. This is a very long and laborious process.
When things take a lot of people and a lot of time, they also take a lot of money. When those things aren't well planned, it usually takes longer, with more people and more expense. It seems even more inefficient and wasteful when we consider this action also bypasses critical safety testing, which could have long-term consequences, some of which could be quite costly.
What dairy products are impacted?
It seems like the impact of this recent change is on fluid milk, aka the milk you drink, with the most impact on Grade "A" raw milk. Raw milk has an even higher need for testing, as there is no pasteurization, so testing for contamination is key to having that as a viable and safe alternative to pasteurized milk. When I've tried raw milk in the past, i only do it from farms that have clear laboratory testing records of each batch to ensure safety.
The impacted lab seems to be a quality control center, so it is unclear what the specific impacts on direct milk testing will be.
This is in addition to other recent cuts to testing for bird flu and pathogens like parasites in other milk and cheese products.
What's the impact here?
It's hard to know. The FDA spokesperson said the lab and its Food Emergency Response Network Proficiency Testing Program are moving, and the program will be restarted. But it is unclear when.
A separate internal email from the Division of Dairy Safety said that the proficiency testing program for Grade "A" raw milk and finished products has been suspended effective since April 21. There is no indication that will restart, but it might.
We also don't know how many laboratories they have and how much this will reduce or cancel testing of milk products. Is it all milk? A regional area of milk? Just the QC of those tests? How do they perform QC of those tests in the interim? Any true planning for a laboratory closure or transfer would have included detailed strategies and answers to those questions, but those seem to be lacking here.
This could lead to a rise in dairy-born illnesses and potentially a spread of pathogens like bird flu and parasites that impact both our health and the cost of these food products. It also adds to concern about the leadership's ability to effectively manage the multiple programs run by the FDA and its parent Health and Human Services office.
For me, I will probably be sticking with my homemade walnut and macadamia nut milk for a while. You can learn how to make it below.
If this is alarming to you, you can also call your representatives and ask them to prioritize funding for critical safety programs like this one.
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US FDA suspends milk quality testing
Due to recent staff cuts and budget cuts.
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Now, for the homemade milk!
Recipe Spotlight
Homemade Milk
My favorite way to make this milk is mostly with walnuts and with a few brazil nuts for selenium and macadamia nuts for extra creaminess. You can use whatever nuts and seeds you like!
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Next time you have a question on the validaity of a nutrition claim, email me about it or try looking it up here.
One of the benefits of publicly funded research, aside from removing industry bias, is that you the tax payer have the right to the results!
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