Significant layoffs in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are eliciting concerns about how the staff cuts will impact the food allergy community. The FDA’s reduced workforce raises questions about the oversight for food allergy recalls, labeling, inspections and transparency.
“Families managing food allergies already navigate a complex system, and these cuts add new uncertainty and anxiety to daily decisions about what’s safe to eat,” Jenna Riemenschneider tells Allergic Living. She is vice president of Advocacy and Policy at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
About 3,500 FDA employees were laid off in July 2025, among staff reductions across the Health and Human Services Department (HHS). The FDA workforce reduction is part of widespread layoffs across several federal health agencies under the Trump administration’s restructuring plan announced in March 2025.
U.S. Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, who has multiple food allergies, says, “These cuts to the FDA should concern every single person.”
The Democrat, who represents central Florida, points to the FDA’s role ensuring that food and drugs in the United States are safe, properly labeled, and recalled quickly when there is an issue.
“Without enough staff and resources, those protections weaken, and it puts lives at risk. And for folks with food allergies like me, this isn’t a political game – it’s life or death,” Frost tells Allergic Living.
Riemenschneider says AAFA, too, is worried about the FDA’s reduced capacity. A big concern is whether this may mean increased risk of accidental allergen exposure for those living with food allergies.
“We’re deeply concerned that staffing cuts at the FDA will hinder the agency’s ability to oversee food allergen labeling, enforce recalls, and inspect facilities when issues arise,” she says.
Layoffs Impact on Allergy Community
The overall impact to food allergy consumers from job eliminations at the FDA is unclear. It is not known which specific roles have been eliminated and which employees are in place to oversee food safety.
The Trump Administration announced plans in late March 2025 to reduce the HHS workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees. There have been delays in the layoffs and some positions have been reinstated.
In a lawsuit filed in May, 19 attorneys-general from Democrat-led states sued over the federal job cuts. This resulted in an injunction that temporarily halted the layoffs. However, a Supreme Court ruling in July lifted the injunction, allowing the job cuts to go through.
Food safety consultant Dr. Steven Gendel says the FDA staff cuts could have a long-term impact, including a loss of efficiency and transparency. Gendel, a former allergen coordinator and food safety risk assessor at the FDA, has not seen specifics about how the agency will ensure quality oversight with fewer employees. “The agency’s food inspection staff is already shorthanded, and the current situation will make it hard to recruit,” he tells Allergic Living.
Frost also notes his concern over an agency that was already dealing with staffing shortages. He points to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on FDA inspections. It states that the federal agency has not met food inspection goals since 2018.
A large contributing factor, according to the report: “FDA officials identified limited workforce capacity as FDA’s primary challenge to meeting inspection targets.”
Food Allergen Labeling Concerns
Grocery labels are a tool food-allergic consumers use daily to check ingredient information. But with the FDA layoffs, questions are being raised about how the agency will ensure labeling accuracy.
During a U.S. House Oversight Committee hearing in April, Frost asked former FDA commissioner Dr. David Kessler about the impact of FDA staffing cuts on the food allergy community.
Kessler answered, “The people who communicate … who write the policies that give the industry the guidance of what to put on the labels, they’re not there anymore.”
FDA allergy guidance includes the Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens (Edition 5), which was released in January 2025. It is among the recommendations the agency provides to help the industry follow requirements for manufacturing processes, such as labeling.
For example, packaged foods must clearly label the top 9 allergens under the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act. The FDA enforces that law, which says ingredients that are major allergens must be listed within the ingredients or a “contains” statement.
When those labels are incorrect, it is essential to inform the public as soon as possible. Recent recalls illustrate the need for oversight.
For example, the FDA recalled 64,800 pounds of butter on July 14 due to milk. The allergen was not listed on the product’s label. Milk was the reason for another recall initiated by Wegmans on June 25, 2025. The supermarket pulled its chocolate candy in several states because the packaging did not indicate the presence of milk.
Frost fears the cuts could mean fewer inspections, slower recalls and more mislabeled products. “When you live with food allergies, just one mistake on a label can be the difference between a safe meal or a trip to the ER,” he says.
What Can Allergy Consumers Do?
The staffing upheaval begs the question: How can food-allergic consumers safely navigate grocery buying?
For those wondering whether it is still worth reporting issues with products, such as mislabeling or an allergic reaction due to a packaged food, the answer is a definite “yes”. Gendel says such consumer reports alert the agency to a new problem, plus help them track an ongoing issue.
“It is always important to report all food safety problems to the FDA,” Gendel says. “Government agencies can only work on fixing the problems that they know about.”
If you experience an allergic reaction or identify a labeling concern, report it to the FDA through the Safety Reporting Portal. Or call 1-888-SAFEFOOD.
In addition to reporting food issues, AAFA suggests steps people managing allergies can take. They include:
- Stay informed: Continue to read labels carefully, and check for food recalls and safety alerts regularly. You can sign up for FDA’s recalls and safety alerts for updates on products that may pose allergen risks. AAFA and its Kids with Food Allergies division also offer resources and action alerts.
- Advocate: Let your members of Congress know that protecting people with food allergies requires fully funding the FDA’s food safety programs. AAFA’s advocacy team can be reached directly at aafa.org/contact-advocacy to help with questions.
Importance of Continued Advocacy
“Advocacy from patients and families is essential to ensure allergen oversight remains a national priority,” Riemenschneider says.
“We urge the public to contact their members of Congress and ask them to oppose harmful FDA budget cuts and demand robust funding for food safety programs.”
Gendel notes that it also is helpful to contact state governments and individual congressional representatives.
“The food allergy community has a history of being proactive and effective in raising awareness and in supporting consumer safety,” he says. “It is essential that this advocacy continue.”
Related Reading:
FDA on Top Allergen Labels: Coconut Off List, Milk Sources Expand
Egg Allergy Life: Learning to Skate Around a Sneaky Allergen
