The Great Inspection Shake-Up: FDA’s New Recipe
In the grand kitchen of U.S. food safety, the FDA has long played head chef—stirring up regulations, inspecting operations, and occasionally flipping a facility on its lid when things got unsanitary. But in 2025, the kitchen dynamics are shifting, with many wondering if the Agency is stepping away from the stove. Staffing cuts, suspended lab testing programs and reports that the FDA is turning down the heat on food safety inspections, are prompting a mix of confusion, concern, and some frantic label-checking in boardrooms and breakrooms across the food industry.
We’ll take a look here at what’s actually happening, how much of it is true (versus sensationalized), what role states are expected to play, and—most importantly—what food companies should be doing right now to keep their operations safe, compliant, and scandal-free.
What’s Cooking? FDA Scaling Back Inspections
FDA is in the middle of a significant restructuring, which includes deep staff reductions at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the umbrella agency over the FDA. While frontline inspectors are technically still on the job, support staff—lab scientists, quality assurance personnel, public affairs specialists, and administrative coordinators—are being cut.
The FDA has reportedly suspended the Proficiency Testing (PT) Program under the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), at least through September 30. This program ensures that labs across the country are capable of detecting foodborne pathogens and contaminants consistently, including with respect to lab testing for the parasite Cyclospora in spinach or the pesticide glyphosate in barley, among other tests. In short: with this testing pause, even when labs do conduct tests, we may not know how accurate they are. Additionally, the agency has reportedly failed to meet its mandated domestic and foreign food facility inspection targets since 2018—and with these staff cuts, it’s not looking any more promising for 2025. As a reminder, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) directs FDA to inspect each high-risk domestic food facility at least once every 3 years and each non high-risk facility at least once every 5 years.
Will States Pick Up the Fork? (Maybe)
If the FDA is pulling back, who’s stepping in? The short answer: state governments—maybe.
State departments of agriculture already conduct about 80% of food safety inspections in the U.S., often under contract with the FDA through programs like the State Cooperative Agreement. However, state agencies are facing their own existential crises, as proposed cuts to federal funding threaten to undermine these very partnerships. Programs meant to support local inspection teams—like those under FSMA—are under growing financial pressure and tightening budgets at a time when oversight needs are only expanding.
What the FDA has Confirmed (So Far)
Despite the swirling uncertainties, the FDA has confirmed no reduction in the actual number of inspectors (yet) and that certain high-risk inspections will continue, provided that Congress allocates the necessary funding. However, the suspension of FERN testing due to staffing shortages has halted critical quality control tests for detecting pathogens and contaminants in food. This suspension underscores the challenges the agency faces in maintaining comprehensive food safety oversight. At the same time, GMP compliance remains mandatory as the FDA has not relaxed any actual regulations. Your HACCP plans, sanitation controls, and allergen management programs? Still very much required.
The Bottom Line: Quality Control Is Still on the Menu
While some may interpret the FDA’s pullback as an opportunity to take a compliance nap—don’t. Now more than ever, food and beverage companies must proactively step up their internal safety game. And regardless of the shifting responsibilities between federal and state agencies, one thing remains clear: food safety is under scrutiny. The FDA’s commitment to quality control and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance continues to be a cornerstone of the nation’s food safety framework. Facilities are still required to adhere to stringent quality control measures, ensuring that food products meet safety standards before reaching consumers.
What You Should be Doing Now:
- Double Down on GMP Compliance
Just because the FDA might not be visiting tomorrow doesn’t mean you should let your GMPs slip.
- Re-audit your production environment.
- Retrain employees on hygiene, equipment cleaning, and cross-contamination prevention.
- Document everything—cleaning logs, supplier checks, pest control records.
- Conduct Internal Audits Like It’s the Olympics
Create a schedule for regular internal inspections, mock recalls, and testing of critical control points. If the FDA isn’t around to keep you honest, you’ll need to be your own watchdog. You don’t want to discover a problem only after your customers do.
- Invest in Third-Party Testing & Certification
If FDA labs are tied up, consider using certified third-party labs for microbial and chemical testing. Look for labs that meet ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and can provide traceable documentation.
Bonus: independent audits from the likes of SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000 can act as a safety net (and a marketing boost).
- Prepare for Surprise Inspections Anyway
If your facility processes high-risk foods (ready-to-eat, dairy, seafood, etc.), you’re still on the radar. Keep your food safety documentation tight and ready to present—because Murphy’s Law loves an unprepared HACCP manager.
- Review Supplier Verification Programs
If upstream suppliers become lax due to reduced oversight, you are still responsible. Conduct more frequent audits and request updated COAs (Certificates of Analysis), GMP certificates, and FSVPs (Foreign Supplier Verification Programs).
Final Word: Don’t Panic. Prepare.
The FDA may or may not be scaling back, and state agencies might be stretched thin, but that doesn’t mean food safety should take a back seat. If anything, this is the moment for companies to reinforce their internal controls, double down on compliance, and lead with proactive quality management. Regulatory eyes may not be as visible, but the risks—recalls, lawsuits, and reputational damage—are very real. In a shifting landscape, the companies that succeed will be the ones who operate as if the inspector could walk in tomorrow… because one day, they still might.
For support with a GMP audit or for general questions on FDA compliance or enforcement issues, please email info@garg-law.com.
