What is the primary purpose of USDA testing milk in their laboratories?

The primary purpose of USDA testing milk in their laboratories is to ensure the milk is safe for consumption. This testing involves a variety of safety checks, including testing for pathogens, contaminants, and the overall quality of the milk. Ensuring safety is crucial because milk can be a vehicle for foodborne illnesses if not properly tested and handled. While other aspects like nutritional content, flavors, and accounting of milk solids are important, they are secondary to the fundamental need to maintain public health through safe consumption standards. The USDA takes its role seriously in monitoring and enforcing regulations that guarantee the milk sold to consumers is free from harmful substances.