Government shutdown affecting FDA

FDA is postponing the routine inspections of domestic food processing facilities. According to the Washington Post, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is working to bring back 150 inspectors, who have been furloughed during the shutdown, as early as next week to resume the inspections of facilities that handle certain foods, such as soft cheese or seafood, or have a history of problems.

Foreign food inspections have been unaffected, and the Department of Agriculture is continuing to inspect domestic meat and poultry, The New York Times reports.