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FDA inspections of food plants, enforcement down, officials say
The number of federal inspections of food-manufacturing facilities, and enforcement actions triggered by those inspections, has decreased, a government auditor reported Tuesday. Officials blamed the situation on inadequate staffing and resources.
Between fiscal 2004 and 2008, the Food and Drug Administration inspected fewer than half of the 51,229 facilities that it regulates, the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services said.
In addition, the number of regulatory actions prompted by inspections fell from 614 in fiscal 2004 to 283 in fiscal 2008, the report found.
"If the FDA does not routinely inspect food facilities, it is unable to guarantee that these facilities are complying with applicable laws and regulations," the inspector general reported.