Key Federal Food Safety Advisory Committees, NACMCF and NACMPI, Have Been Terminated

Two key food safety advisory committees have been terminated—the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).

In a statement, food safety and consumer advocacy organization Consumer Reports said about the terminations, “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. These expert panels provide impartial scientific advice and recommendations to USDA, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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.”

No statement about the cancellation of NACMCF and NACMPI has yet been made by the Presidential Administration or any other federal public health agency or department.

Prior to its termination, NACMCF was working on advice related to significant and deadly foodborne illness outbreaks, to prevent similar issues for reoccurring. Most recently, NACMCF was charged with reviewing USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services’ (FSIS’) regulatory approach for Listeria monocytogenes, prompted by the fatal listeriosis outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that occurred in the later half of 2024. Other issues NACMCF was addressing included Cronobacter in powdered infant formula for FDA, in response to an outbreak caused by Abbott Nutrition infant formula that resulted in the death of two infants in 2022 and precipitated a nationwide shortage of formula.

Recent NACMPI meetings focused on USDA-FSIS’ definitions for establishment sizes and use of inspection technology, as well as ways in which FSIS could enhance engagement with underserved communities to promote equity while strengthening the food supply chain and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.

NACMCF was established in 1988 by the Secretary of Agriculture, after consulting with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The committee provides impartial scientific advice and recommendations to federal agencies on microbiological and public health issues relative to the safety of the U.S. food supply. NACMPI was established in 1971 to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities. The current Secretary of Agriculture and HHS Secretary were recently confirmed as Brooke Rollins and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., respectively.