Report claims FDA inspects only up to 2% of food imports

July 1, 2014

According to the report, the federal regulator has been unable to deal with the rising food product imports in the United States, because it has been forced to operate under a tight budget.

Only a very small proportion of the food imported into the United States reaches consumers after having been inspected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), potentially leaving consumers exposed to health risks from unchecked products, new research jointly conducted by FairWarning and Investigative News Network (INN) warns.

According to the report, the federal regulator has been unable to deal with the rising food product imports in the United States, because it has been forced to operate under a tight budget. As a result, not more than two percent of all imported food is actually physically inspected by FDA officials on an annual basis, before the shipments reach shelves and respectively, consumers, FairWarning writes on its website.

Figures collected by FairWarning and INN reveal that more than 15 percent of all food that American consumers buy originates abroad. When it comes to winter fruit and vegetables, the proportion of overseas food reaches half of the total, while almost the entire amount of seafood sold in U.S. stores and markets is caught in non-U.S. waters. However, statistics reveal that the FDA blocks approximately same number of shipments of foreign food as it did 10 years ago, but the difference is that imports then were about half the amount imported today, authors of the report said.

The FDA has declined to comment on the findings of the report, FairWarning noted.

Sponsored Recommendations

Choosing The Right Partner for CHIPS Act Investments

As the U.S. looks to invest in the semiconductor research and production using CHIPS Act 2022 funding, it's important to choose the right partner.

EMWD Uses Technology to Meet Sustainability Goals

Eastern Municipal Water District pilots artificial intelligence-enabled control and machine learning to help save energy, reduce costs, and improve quality.

Protein Processing Solutions: Automation & Control

For protein processors looking to address industry challenges, improve efficiency, and stay ahead in a competitive market, Rockwell Automation offers tailored automation, control...

Automotive Manufacturing Innovation: Smart Solutions for a Connected Future

Rockwell Automation provides automation and control systems tailored for the automotive and tire industries, supporting electric vehicle production, tire production, battery production...