The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently disbanded two pivotal food safety advisory committees, sparking concerns among consumer advocates. The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) have been terminated without any official explanation from the USDA or other federal health agencies. Consumer Reports, a prominent food safety advocacy group, has expressed alarm over this decision, warning that it may signal a diminished focus on food safety within the USDA. These expert panels have historically provided impartial scientific guidance to the USDA, FDA, and CDC on critical public health matters related to food safety.

The termination of these committees comes at a time when food safety remains a pressing concern. NACMCF had been actively involved in addressing significant outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, aiming to prevent future occurrences. Most recently, the committee was reviewing the USDA's approach to regulating Listeria monocytogenes, following a deadly outbreak linked to deli meats in late 2024. Additionally, NACMCF was examining issues such as Cronobacter contamination in powdered infant formula, which led to fatalities and a nationwide shortage in 2022. Meanwhile, NACMPI had been focusing on improving inspection technology and promoting equity in underserved communities to strengthen the food supply chain.

NACMCF was established in 1988 by the Secretary of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to provide unbiased scientific advice on microbiological and public health issues concerning the U.S. food supply. NACMPI, founded in 1971, advised the Secretary of Agriculture on federal and state inspection programs. The recent appointments of Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services add a new layer of context to these developments.

Consumer advocates fear that the disbanding of these committees could undermine efforts to enhance food safety regulations and address emerging public health challenges. Without the input of these expert panels, key decisions on food safety may lack the necessary scientific rigor, potentially putting consumers at greater risk. The absence of an official statement from the administration or relevant agencies further deepens concerns about the future direction of food safety policy in the United States.