The current partial government shutdown has dramatically curtailed routine food inspections by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, observed Grumpy Editor.
The FDA oversees the nation's food supply and regularly investigates foodborne illness outbreaks.
The shutdown concerns many because not getting a close look are risky foods such as produce, cheese and infant formula.
However, according to the FDA, efforts were being made to bring back about 150 FDA workers this week to focus on riskier food items.
The agency usually conducts about 160 domestic food inspections a week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said each year 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.
CDC researchers have identified more than 250 foodborne diseases. Most of them are infections, caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
A Wall Street Journal report said the FDA, during the shutdown “has continued to conduct inspections at foreign food facilities, and it is still inspecting imported goods coming into U.S. ports.”
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