USDA Scraps Food Safety Committees Amid Oversight Concerns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has eliminated two key advisory committees on food safety. This decision has raised concerns about the adequacy of government oversight on the food supply, especially as the Trump administration works to reduce federal bureaucracy and cut costs. The committees affected are the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken a controversial step by eliminating two major advisory committees dedicated to food safety oversight. The decision comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to streamline federal operations and reduce expenditure.

The USDA's move has sparked debate, raising questions about the potential impact on food safety standards. Concerned parties point out the role these committees played in safeguarding public health by addressing crucial issues in meat and poultry inspection, as well as microbiological criteria for foods.

This policy shift underscores the administration's broader agenda to overhaul government structures, but it also brings into focus the delicate balance between cost-cutting measures and maintaining rigorous public health protocols.

(With inputs from agencies.)