USDA Boosts State Inspection Reimbursements by $14.5 Million

Federal boost aims to sustain state-led meat and poultry oversight—but long-term funding remains uncertain.

Increased funding for state inspections is a temporary solution to issues of food safety.
Increased funding for state inspections is a temporary solution to issues of food safety.
Sutthichai Supapornpasupad via Getty Images

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will increase funding by $14.5 million to reimburse states operating their own meat and poultry inspection programs—an effort to maintain oversight of food safety amid budget pressures, according to a USDA notice. The funding will have the greatest impact on small and medium-sized producers and processors due to their tighter margins.

The funding increase for state inspection follows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspending its quality control program for food testing laboratories, prompted by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget and staffing cuts, according to Reuters.

But, the USDA expressed concerns that funding isn’t a sustainable path in leading food safety initiatives because it isn’t a long-term solution to inspection issues.

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