Has the FDA suspended milk testing? Social media hasn’t been honest about it

On April 21, Reuters reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended "a quality control program for testing fluid milk and other dairy products." This information reportedly comes from an internal email to FDA's "network laboratories" from the Division of Dairy Safety. The news was quickly adapted, often inaccurately, by viral social media posts and various news stories, suggesting that the safety of Grade A milk is compromised. 

However, this narrative is misleading. What the FDA suspended was lab proficiency testing, not routine milk testing. Lab proficiency testing served as a tool to ensure the accuracy of FDA-affiliated laboratories when testing milk for contaminants. These labs continue to be evaluated by third-party entities to ensure proficiency. Roberta Wagner of the International Dairy Foods Association reassured that "rigorous milk and dairy safety testing continues," and the FDA is looking into alternative approaches for laboratory evaluations. 

Despite the suspension of proficiency testing, milk is tested extensively at multiple stages from farm to store, ensuring safety and quality. Unfortunately, the proliferation of sensationalized social media content has sown confusion. It is vital for consumers to seek verified information from trusted sources and not fall prey to misinformation, maintaining confidence in the safety of their dairy supply.