The federal shutdown hitting the nation this week has affected many jobs including inspectors in the Food and Drug Administration.
"FDA will be unable to support the majority of its food safety, nutrition, and cosmetics activities," A document written by the Department of Health and Human Services said. "FDA will also have to cease safety activities such as routine establishment inspections, some compliance and enforcement activities, monitoring of imports, notification programs (e.g., food contact substances, infant formula), and the majority of the laboratory research necessary to inform public health decision-making."
The document explains that as a result of the shutdown, inspections will be limited until Congress and the president agree on a bill to fund the federal government.
According to the Huffington Post, FDA officials inspect an average of 80 food-related facilities per day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue its food safety inspection services of meat production facilities only. Food safety advocates are concerned that shortcuts and carelessness may lead to health issues.
"Speaker Boehner should not let food safety and other vital government functions be held hostage just because an extreme faction in his caucus opposes the health care reform law," Caroline Smith deWaal, head of food safety at the Center for Science for Public Interest, said in a statement. "The government's food safety functions are far more pressing than the unrealistic demands being made by petulant extremists in the House."
Huffington Post reports that if the shutdown lasts until Oct. 17, 960 facilities may go without U.S. inspections.
In fiscal 2011, the FDA conducted inspections of about 20,000 food facilities for compliance with safety regulations. The 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act actually requires U.S. inspectors to check almost 35,000 facilities a year, but funding has not been provided to meet that mandate.
