A decrease in international inspections by US regulators has raised concerns about the safety of imported food. This trend has been ongoing, with a notable drop in inspections of foreign food sites. The number of these inspections has fallen significantly, by nearly 35 percent, since 2019.

This decline is linked to various factors, including a wave of retirements and departures among inspectors that started during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the agency had already struggled to meet its targets for international inspections.

Further details about the decline in inspections and its impact on food safety are available from the source, including information about recent staffing cuts and reorganizations.