In a controversial move that could significantly alter how food is monitored in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to phase out the majority of its routine federal food safety inspections.
According to sources familiar with internal plans, the agency intends to shift responsibility for food facility oversight to state and local authorities, a decision met with sharp criticism from food safety advocates and public health experts.
Under the proposed policy shift, the FDA would no longer conduct most of the routine inspections of food manufacturers, processing plants, and packaging facilities. Instead, it would rely more heavily on partnerships with state-level health departments and regulatory bodies.
While the FDA would continue to handle high-risk inspections, outbreak investigations, and imported food oversight, the bulk of ongoing monitoring duties would transition to local jurisdictions.
The change comes amid federal budget constraints and internal staffing cuts. Reports suggest that the FDA’s own Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), a key system used to respond to foodborne illness outbreaks, is also experiencing budgetary reductions. These cuts have prompted the agency to prioritize core emergency functions and streamline routine operations.
An FDA spokesperson has not publicly confirmed the full scope of changes but acknowledged that “ongoing restructuring efforts are intended to improve efficiency and modernize oversight systems.”
Critics argue this is a dangerous step backward for public health.
“This decentralization increases the risk of uneven food safety standards across states,” said Dr. Angela Wilmot, a food science professor at Tufts University. “Many local agencies are underfunded and may not have the capacity or expertise to replace the FDA’s oversight.”
Public interest groups like Consumer Reports and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have raised alarms, calling the move short-sighted and urging Congressional oversight.
“If this policy moves forward, we’re essentially gambling with the safety of the national food supply,” said CSPI’s deputy director, John Carlson.
The FDA currently oversees approximately 80% of the U.S. food supply, including all non-meat and non-poultry products. By reducing federal inspections, watchdogs worry about:
- Inconsistent enforcement of safety protocols
- Slower response to contamination events
- Increased burden on already stretched local health departments
- Greater variance in food quality and safety between regions
Historically, FDA inspections have played a key role in identifying outbreaks related to salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, prompting recalls before products hit shelves or reach widespread distribution.
Some state officials have expressed concern over the additional responsibility being passed down without clear funding or staffing support.
“We support stronger state-level enforcement, but it needs to come with resources,” said New Jersey’s Director of Public Health. “Otherwise, we’re being set up to fail.”
Conversely, a few states with more developed food safety infrastructures, like California and Minnesota, view this shift as an opportunity to take a more localized, agile approach to inspections.
FDA is making plans to end routine food safety inspections — CBS News
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This decision appears to align with a broader federal trend of devolving oversight responsibilities to state and municipal governments. Similar strategies have been proposed or enacted in areas like Medicaid administration, environmental regulation, and education policy.
Advocates for limited government view this shift as a return to state autonomy, but public health professionals worry about fragmented oversight and reduced national consistency in safety standards.
The FDA has not formally published a final rule or public roadmap for the changes. However, leaked memos indicate that the transition could begin as early as Q3 2025, with a phased withdrawal from low-risk facility inspections by federal agents.
A coalition of lawmakers, led by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), is reportedly drafting bipartisan legislation to prevent the FDA from offloading federal inspection responsibilities without Congressional approval.
If the plan proceeds, this would mark the largest rollback of federal food safety authority in decades. As public health advocates raise alarms and state agencies scramble to prepare, one thing is certain: the burden of ensuring safe food could soon shift closer to your local community.
