— OPINION — Many critical functions of the food division of the Food and Drug Administration have been drastically slowed or entirely stopped since late January, potentially making Americans less safe, current FDA employees say. The Human Foods Program (HFP), as the food division is now known, is responsible for ensuring the safety of most of the food supply in the U.S.
This division inspects infant formula factories; responds to emergency outbreaks of foodborne illnesses such as listeria, E. coli, and salmonella; coordinates recalls of unsafe foods, as it did with lead-tainted applesauce after several dozen children were sickened; researches additives like Red Dye No. 3 and bans them if they are found to be toxic; and more.
FDA inspectors have oversight over nearly 300,000 food manufacturing or handling facilities, more than half of which are outside the U.S. Food testing — for contaminants like lead, bacteria, or pesticides — occurs as part of routine surveillance of the food supply, and also as part of investigations into specific contaminants of concern, like PFAS (forever chemicals).
Food to be tested is often purchased at supermarkets and restaurants. On Jan. 23, HFP staffers learned that their government-issued credit cards were being suspended until further notice, according to interviews with current FDA employees and e-mails reviewed by Consumer Reports.
(A month later, a White House executive order froze all government credit cards for 30 days.) With credit.
