US FDA Foreign Food Inspections Decline by 35%
· World · The Independent, Wired
Food and Drug Administration inspections of foreign food facilities have dropped nearly 35% since 2019, according to agency records. This decline follows a wave of staff departures during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing organizational changes. The reduction in oversight has raised concerns following a recent nationwide cyclospora outbreak linked to imported lettuce. While the FDA maintains that it uses a variety of tools like border sampling to ensure safety, critics argue that traditional, week-long inspections are essential for identifying complex contamination issues.
Why it matters
The reduction in international inspections increases the risk of foodborne illnesses entering the U.S. supply chain from foreign farms.
Read the original report — The Independent
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.