Federal government shutdown won’t impede food-safety inspections, says IBA
The federal government shutdown on Tuesday, Oct. 1, had many adverse effects, including those in the food sector. According to the Independent Bakers Association (IBA), Washington, the House of Representatives isn’t scheduled to vote on the Senate's counter offer for the continuing resolution (CR). “Our internal prediction is a one-week shutdown while House and Senate leadership negotiate a mutually acceptable CR,” the association reports. “Until a new CR passes, some federal government programs will temporarily suspend, but those classified as ‘essential’ will continue.”
Such federal operations that will continue despite a shutdown include food-safety and border inspections and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. “There is sufficient emergency funding to operate school meals programs for 30 days during a federal shutdown,” IBA states. “Food & Nutrition Services has $125 million in contingency funds to allocate among discretionary federal programs, like Women, Infants & Children.”