President Trump eliminates two key food safety committees

The Trump Administration has eliminated two USDA food safety advisory committees that have been in place for decades.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified committee members of the move on March 6.

The committees are the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).  

“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,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports. 

“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 U.S. The failure to recognize and leverage the value of this scientific expertise is dangerous and irresponsible.”

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods is a discretionary advisory committee that was established in 1988 by the Secretary of Agriculture after consulting with the Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services. The formation of the committee came during the Republican Administration of President Ronald Reagan.

The committee was formed in response to the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations to provide an interagency approach to microbiological criteria because numerous federal, state, and local agencies are responsible for food safety.

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods provides impartial scientific advice and recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other government agencies on microbiological and public health issues relative to the safety of the U.S. food supply.

The food safety programs of the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration rely on NACMCF recommendations to carry out their missions. The programs of other federal agencies concerned with food safety, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Department of Defense (DoD), Veterinary Services also benefit from NACMCF work.

The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) was established in 1971 under the Republican Administration of President Richard Nixon. It advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities.

Agency officials present the committee with matters that are considered to be issues of concern with limited discussion taking place on the issue. The committee decides if further information is required, and if so, the committee will assign the issue to a sub-committee for a thorough discussion and complete analysis of the issue, including recommendations.

The committee is charged with meeting at least once per year. Members include people from industry; state and federal governments; public health, scientific, and academic communities; and consumers and consumer organizations.

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