Recent federal agency layoffs have significantly impacted the USDA’s bird flu response and food safety advisory committees.
The layoffs included staff at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, affecting leadership, policy, legal and communication teams, Reuters reports. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says the layoffs hit areas crucial to public safety: bird flu response, food safety and animal health.
Additionally, on March 6, the administration disbanded two USDA food safety advisory committees: the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI), according to Meat+Poultry. NACMCF provides food safety recommendations that affect the food supply to the secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. NACMPI advises the secretary of Agriculture on food safety and inspection policies, with members including processors, meat science academics and industry experts.
The AVMA and Consumer Reports urge Congress to restore the positions to protect food safety and animal health.
