The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has temporarily suspended its Grade “A” milk laboratory proficiency testing program, prompting clarification from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) that the move does not impact milk or dairy product safety in the marketplace.
According to IDFA, the pause does not reduce the number or frequency of tests performed on Grade “A” milk and finished dairy products. Milk quality remains subject to rigorous testing protocols throughout the supply chain—from farms, during transport, and at processing facilities—by both state and federal agencies as required by the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.
The suspended program was not a safety or quality check on milk itself, but rather a technical evaluation tool used by the FDA to assess the accuracy and performance of laboratories tasked with analyzing milk samples. Participating labs received milk samples spiked by the FDA with controlled levels of microbiological, chemical, or animal drug contaminants. Their test results were then compared with FDA reference results to assess performance. Many of these labs also undergo third-party proficiency evaluations to ensure continued accuracy.
The FDA is currently exploring alternative methods to assess laboratory performance and has pledged to keep labs informed of any developments.
Despite the suspension, IDFA emphasized that milk and dairy product safety remains a national priority and that consumers can remain confident in the quality and safety of dairy products available at retail.
