Blumenthal Slams Trump Administration's Actions Weakening Food Safety Months After Deadly Listeria Outbreak

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Brooke Rollins, slamming her decision to terminate the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) and calling for their reinstatement. These committees were dedicated to reviewing issues related to food safety, and providing recommendations to USDA, including how to prevent future outbreaks and improve the safety of our nation’s food supply. This decision follows last year’s nationwide listeria outbreak, which killed 10 and left dozens sick and while NACMCF was actively reviewing USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services’ approach to regulating the bacteria to inform policy changes necessary to protect the public.

“This Administrations misguided attempt at “reducing bureaucracy” threatens to halt any progress made toward strengthening the safety of our food supply. I urge you to reestablish these advisory committees, as dismissing scientific expertise on the heels of several food contaminations – some deadly – is dangerous and irresponsible,” wrote Blumenthal.

Blumenthal highlighted the danger of disbanding these food safety advisory committees, writing, “Foodborne illness in the United States continues to be a significant public health threat. Disbanding these committees will hamstring our public health and food safety agencies from responding to future crises or, better yet, preventing them from happening in the first place. I am concerned that your agency will be unable to adequately protect the public from foodborne illnesses and maintain the integrity of our food safety infrastructure.”

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

March 12, 2025

The Honorable Brooke Rollins

Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, D.C., 20250

Dear Secretary Rollins,

I write to express serious concerns with your recent decision to terminate the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The NACMCF provides impartial, scientific advice and recommendations to USDA on microbiological and public health issues relative to the safety of the U.S. food supply[1] while NACMPI advises on matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities.[2] This Administrations misguided attempt at “reducing bureaucracy”[3] threatens to halt any progress made toward strengthening the safety of our food supply. I urge you to reestablish these advisory committees, as dismissing scientific expertise on the heels of several food contaminations – some deadly –is dangerous and irresponsible.

Foodborne illness in the United States continues to be a significant public health threat. Three years ago, infant formula linked to Abbott Nutrition killed two infants.[4] Last year, deli meat linked to Boar’s Head killed 10 people.[5]This year the ongoing frozen supplement shakes linked to Prairie Farms has already killed 12 people.[6]  Disbanding these committees will hamstring our public health and food safety agencies from responding to future crises or, better yet, preventing them from happening in the first place.

In December, NACMCF was charged with reviewing USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services’ (FSIS) regulatory approach to Listeria monocytogenes to inform any long-term policy changes necessary to protect the public from the fatal bacteria and to improve oversight of facilities.[7] Further, NACMCF was also reviewing Cronobacter, the bacteria linked to the infant formula crisis that led to a nationwide shortage.[8] Simultaneously, NACMPI was considering a number of issues, including strengthening the food supply chain and ensuring companies comply with food safety regulation.[9] This work is critical and should be allowed to continue.

I am concerned that your agency will be unable to adequately protect the public from foodborne illnesses and maintain the integrity of our food safety infrastructure, that is why I requests answers to the following questions by March 26, 2025.

1. The stated reason for terminating NACMCF and NACMPI was the Executive Order, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy. Given that committee members were volunteers and the budget for NACMCF is $225,000 and NACMPI is $75,000, how was it determined that this work was subject to reduction?

2. These advisory committees are comprised of representatives from across the stakeholder spectrum -- industry, consumers, public health, academia -- who provided impartial, scientific advice and recommendations to USDA, the FDA, and the CDC. How do you envision USDA being able to access this kind of information and expertise going forward?

3. As noted, the upcoming charges for NACMCF included updating and improving the regulatory approach to Listeria subsequent to the Boar's Head outbreak last year, as well as reviewing Cronobacter, the bacteria linked to the infant formula crisis. Since USDA disbanded NACMCF, what experts will USDA consult in their absence?

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