The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is already under increasing fire. This follows their mishandling of a deadly E. Coli outbreak last November, which resulted in one death and dozens of illnesses. The FDA did not respond publicly to the outbreak nor issue any public advisories. Without NBC’s diligent investigative reporting, this problem would have still flown under the radar. This shocking disclosure calls into serious question the agency’s transparency, as well as its commitment to the safety of our food supply.
In mid-February, with little fanfare, the FDA ended its investigation into the multi-state E. Coli outbreak. Instead, this decision was scrutinized for the lack of agency priorities and protocols for handling food borne illness. The outbreak is indeed serious, but the FDA has failed to be forthcoming with the public. At the same time, critics are sounding alarmed as the agency prepares to make huge cuts to its food safety functions. The FDA is moving to transfer many inspection functions to state agencies. Critics warn that this step could endanger federal food safety standards.
The agency recently announced its intention to suspend important quality control programs at all food testing laboratories. They blame these cutbacks on a recent reduction in manpower. These reductions take place during a time of massive federal employee layoffs, too. All sectors—from Social Security to our education system—have taken a hit. The implications of these layoffs extend even to daily services like weather reports, raising alarms about the overall functionality of federal agencies.
Additionally, internal deliberations within FDA have suggested plans to eliminate routine, regular safety inspection entirely. The FDA’s new proactive approach to food safety is now at risk. This uncertainty stems in part from its decision to contract out the majority of inspection work for lower risk food categories, resulting in substantial oversight and accountability issues.
This is why Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been such a hub of controversy lately by taking the FDA to task. He calls for sweeping changes at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Together, his blunt criticisms are emblematic of a booming public drumbeat calling into question the FDA’s effectiveness and priorities in protecting the public’s health.
