The Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency of the United States.
Raw milk produced for human consumption is subject to testing routines set and enforced by state-level authorities. Raw milk produced for pasteurization is tested for successful pasteurization via the phosphatase test, confirming destruction of the phosphatase enzyme, by state authorities. Milk, and commerce in general, is only touched by federal agencies when it crosses state lines.
How is milk production monitored
Milk purity and pathogen testing is a community effort with two governmental components:
- Federal Oversight: The FDA provides national standards and oversight for milk safety through the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO).
- State-Level Testing: States conduct most of the milk testing and enforcement, following state and FDA guidelines.
Federal agency, including the FDA and USDA, conduct research and provide guidance. The states carry out initiatives prescribed by state or federal law and special cooperative efforts like bird flu surveillance (which was actually USDA).
FDA cuts the proficiency program
The current administration’s FDA started with more than 18,000 employees and will reduce in force by approximately 3,500 employees through planned layoffs. Following these layoffs, the FDA is now planning to hire contractors to replace some of the roles that were eliminated, particularly in travel coordination and logistics for inspectors.
FDA has suspended their Proficiency Testing Program, in the wake of these job cuts, which ensured that laboratories could accurately analyze milk samples. This program was an internal evaluation tool to ensure FDA-affiliated labs could detect potential hazards.
While FDA-affiliated third-party testing labs will now have less oversight, state laws requiring milk testing remain in effect and will be carried out by the states and state-approved labs.
IDFA: Rigorous Milk and Dairy Safety Testing Continues
Resources
Learn more about on-site milk testing with RAWMI’s free training.
