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crayfish galore!

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Art by Jim Musil

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BAMBOU

twitter/ insta/bluesky/ store

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Pusheen the cat characters as real animals part one

Pusheen

Stormy

Pip

Pusheen's Mom

Pusheen's Dad

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https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-suspends-milk-quality-tests-amid-workforce-cuts-2025-04-21/

US FDA suspends milk quality tests amid workforce cuts

Article Date: April 22, 2025 (update)

Relevant for: United States resident audience and those that order / import U.S. foods.

Summary:

In early April 2025, there were previous cuts to testing for avian flu in dairy products, and testing for parasite Cyclospora in food products.

In April 21 2025, there are further plans for full suspension of quality control management for diary products (example: "grade A" milk, cheese, ice cream, powdered milk); particularly, sanitation standards. (Though, the HHS spokesperson claims general dairy testing will continue)

The U.S. presidential administration is proposing cutting $40 Billion from FDA's budget, on top of that.

Suggestions:

If possible, avoid U.S. dairy and dairy derived products. While avian flu can be killed when heated to high temperatures and in the pasteurization process, general "grade A" quality control and sanitation standards being suspended means a lot more than avian flu won't be managed (example scenario: having tiny rocks in milk, or other contaminations)

Cyclospora, the parasite is usually found in fruits and vegetables as a result of contaminated water and fecal transmission, but can be killed at high temperatures. Previous cyclospora outbreaks in the U.S. were of raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas and mesclun lettuce. Cook your fruits and veggies, wash your hands and equipment and fridges; as cyclospora is unlikely to be removed by only washing contaminated foods. (FDA: cyclospora)

A copy of the full article below:

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - The Food and Drug Administration is suspending a quality control program for testing of fluid milk and other dairy products due to reduced capacity in its food safety and nutrition division, according to an internal email seen by Reuters.

The suspension is another disruption to the nation's food safety programs after the termination and departure of 20,000 employees of the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the FDA, as part of President Donald Trump's effort to shrink the federal workforce.

The FDA this month also suspended existing and developing programs that ensured accurate testing for bird flu in milk and cheese and pathogens like the parasite Cyclospora in other food products.

Effective Monday, the agency suspended its proficiency testing program for Grade "A" raw milk and finished products, according to the email sent in the morning from the FDA's Division of Dairy Safety and addressed to "Network Laboratories."

Grade "A" milk, or fluid milk, meets the highest sanitary standards.

The testing program was suspended because FDA's Moffett Center Proficiency Testing Laboratory, part of its division overseeing food safety, "is no longer able to provide laboratory support for proficiency testing and data analysis," the email said.

An HHS spokesperson said the laboratory was already set to be decommissioned before the staff cuts and though proficiency testing would be paused during the transition to a new laboratory, dairy product testing will continue.

The Trump administration has proposed cutting $40 billion from the agency.

The FDA's proficiency testing programs ensure consistency and accuracy across the nation's network of food safety laboratories. Laboratories also rely on those quality control tests to meet standards for accreditation.

"The FDA is actively evaluating alternative approaches for the upcoming fiscal year and will keep all participating laboratories informed as new information becomes available," the email said.

(Reporting by Leah; Editing by Sandra Maler Douglas; Editing by Sandra Maler and Chizu Nomiyama)

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I would normally never do this and I normally avoid all political posting, but the FDA has had to stop a lot of food testing due to staff cuts currently planned at least until September 30th.

This is very dangerous for certain foods and if you live in the United States, I highly recommend that you keep track of this list: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/food-traceability-list

That is a (not fully comprehensive but useful) list of the high-risk foods for contamination and sickness that could result in serious harm or death. The broad strokes are cheeses, but especially soft cheeses, raw/fresh vegetables, pre-sliced fruit packages, ready to eat salads, chicken eggs, milk (bird flu), anything fermented like melons, and pet food, among others.

This is likely not a comprehensive list, so be sure to look things up yourself as well.

If you buy vegetables and plan to eat them, it is best to cook them to a safe temperature and wash their outsides well with water and light scrubbing instead of eating them raw.

Make sure that the individual foods that you buy often are safe to eat or at risk, and adjust accordingly. This is a fundamental necessity that everyone here will need to follow. Testing is reduced or gone, and reporting on outbreaks will also likely be reduced or banned outright as well.

All you can do is stay safe, use your masks in public again, and make sure that you are clean as well as your food.

Attached below are more tips for vegetables, meat safety should be the same, just be more vigilant.

I love you all and don't want any of you hurt. Let's all support each other, thank you.

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sleepy gaang >>>> everyone else

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toph, my girl!

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topher