Food Safety Was Slipping in the U.S. Then Came Mass Layoffs. 🇺🇸 At the FDA 2,500 people were laid off, including workers in the Human Foods Program, who are tasked with ensuring food safety, and scientists at a product safety lab in San Francisco that tests foods for bacteria. Also gutted were communications staff at both FDA and the CDC, who helped coordinate response to outbreaks and informed both consumers and businesses about recalled food. It does not appear these workers were replaced with AI, automation, or any other cost-savings way to keep food sold to Americans safe.