The US Department of Agriculture has disbanded two food safety advisory committees in alignment with President Trump's directive to downsize federal bureaucracy and reduce costs.
A USDA spokesperson told Just Food the department has eliminated the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).
The combined annual budget for the two committees was approximately $300,000, covering staff support and travel reimbursements for members, according to agency records.
In a statement, the USDA spokesperson said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins “fully supports the President’s directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen USDA’s many services to the American people”.
However, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will continue to fulfil its "mission to keep the supply of meat, poultry, and egg products safe, wholesome, and properly labelled for consumers", the statement added.
The NACMPI was established in 1971 to provide guidance to the Secretary of Agriculture on federal and state inspection programme activities.
The NACMCF, established in 1988, was an advisory committee that provided scientific advice and recommendations to the USDA and other government agencies on microbiological and public health issues related to food safety.
Commenting on the elimination of two committees, Consumer Reports food policy director Brian Ronholm said: “The termination of these two important advisory committees is very alarming and should serve as a warning to consumers that food safety will not be a priority at USDA in the foreseeable future.
“These expert panels provide impartial scientific advice and recommendations to USDA, FDA and the CDC on public health issues related to food safety in the US. The failure to recognise and leverage the value of this scientific expertise is dangerous and irresponsible.”
