• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • My Story
    • Hire
    • Custom Cakes
    • Handmade Treats
  • The Blog
  • The Scoop
  • Gluten Free
  • Paleo
  • Keto
  • GAPS

Edible Times

  • All Recipes
  • How To
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Desserts
    • Chocolate
  • Drinks
  • Kids

What a government and FDA shutdown means, and how to protect your family

Op Ed

Facebook0Tweet0Pin0Yummly0
2 Oct

Fall is in the air.  The golden leaves are falling off the trees, the sweet, Honeycrisp apples are falling into the bushels, and the country is falling apart. Or perhaps it’s already fallen apart with the federal government and consequently an FDA shutdown.

FDA shutdown October 2013 screenshot.

What an FDA shutdown means for Americans

The Food and Drug Administration is closed, which includes food safety operations, inspections and regular recalls. And while the USDA is the agency responsible for inspecting most meat, poultry and eggs – and continues to do so – the FDA is the source of inspection for the remainder of the food supply.

The Food & Drug Administration + food safety

E. coli in that bag of baby spinach on the grocery store shelf?  Toxins in dietary supplements? Salmonella on imported tomatoes? As we’ve seen in the past decade, it’s all possible when the FDA is operating. Let alone when the FDA is shutdown and food is allowed to freestyle its way through through the supply chain.

Baby spinach

Food safety tips in a government shutdown

So here’s the Edible Times solution: choose carefully.

  • If you have access to a local farmers’ market, take advantage
  • Wash fresh produce you bring home from the grocery store with warm water, or better yet a produce wash that contains vinegar
  • Consider lightly cooking foods you might usually eat fresh, as heat can eliminate some or most of the harmful bacteria running rampant through our food system
  • Select packaged foods like peanut butter with care from a trustworthy producer
  • Avoid that sneaky bite of raw cookie dough, seriously
  • Cook all meat, vegetables and eggs thoroughly

High-risk populations

Sadly, the absence of FDA inspectors in food processing plants is most threatening for those who are most at risk. Especially if you’re feeding the very young, the very pregnant, or the elderly. Listeria, a foodborne bacteria that can cause miscarriage during pregnancy, is most commonly found on deli meat, but outbreaks of the pathogen have been linked to frozen vegetables.

Until the government shutdown ends and FDA inspectors are allowed back to work, it seems harmless to err on the side of culinary caution.   Since we can’t know how long or hard this severe compromise of the health of Americans will last. Hopefully as winter comes, so will the return of food safety.

Yours in food,

Sources

“CSPI to Speaker Boehner: Food Safety More Pressing than Demands of House Extremists ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI ~ Center for Science in the Public Interest.” CSPI to Speaker Boehner: Food Safety More Pressing than Demands of House Extremists ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI ~ Center for Science in the Public Interest. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2013.

“About FDA.” What Does FDA Regulate? N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2013.

“Pay & Leave Furlough Guidance.” U.S. Office of Personnel Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2013.

Washington Post

Related Posts

  • Food Truth: You don’t need to massage your kale
  • An easy + delicious stuffed pork roulade recipe
  • The keys to great wine pairing: Disaster, Switzerland, solo act & magic
  • How to saber champagne and not end up in the ER

Leave a Comment

Ready to ditch recipes once and for all?

My goal is to empower you in the kitchen by sharing the basic ratios and formulas BEHIND the recipes. Subscribe to my newsletter for exclusive content, chef hacks, and three complimentary answers to your most burning food questions from yours truly.

Questions? Comments? Join in Below! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s talk food!I am truly inspired when you comment. Your email will not be shared, sold, or added to the newsletter list. To subscribe to the Edible Times newsletter for exclusive content, sign up above.

Christina Bailey

Thanks for coming to Edible Times!

I'm Christina, a classically trained private chef + Chef Mom to two little boys. I'm here to empower you in the kitchen and in health by sharing delicious, chef-tested recipes for all diets. Anyone can become a great cook! To read about me and my food philosophy, follow this. To get straight to recipes + tips head to the blog.

Find recipes + techniques

my foodgawker gallery

browse recipes

  • Breakfast
  • Chocolate
  • Desserts
  • Dinner
  • Drinks
  • GAPS
  • Gluten Free
  • How To
  • Keto
  • Kids
  • Macarons
  • Op Ed
  • Paleo
  • Recipes
  • Vegan
Get ready to #brunchsohard my wonderful Instagram Get ready to #brunchsohard my wonderful Instagram peeps. 😋

How to make French toast. With any bread. Nutritious and quick, or sinful and indulgent.

Inspired by my Mom’s classic New Orlean’s-style cinnamon French toast. 😍 

Sandwich bread. 🍞 Brioche. Challah. Baguette. 🥖 Gluten free. 
Keto. YES. I said KETO French toast. 
And the one custard ratio that rules them all. 

All methods in one friendly place. Use the link in bio, or this:

https://edibletimes.com/french-toast-recipe/

#glutenfree #edibletimes #keto #ketorecipes #paleo #paleorecipes #thefeedfeed #thefeedfeedglutenfree #yum #yummy #cinnamon #frenchtoast #frenchtoastrecipe #brunchtime #norecipe #recipe #boiseblogger
You know you eat the raw cookie dough. Who doesn’t?! 
😋
Enter homemade (safely raw) Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites. 
🍪 
Tomorrow my blog subscribers will get the recipe and method for adapting these addictive, chocolate-laced morsels for gluten free, paleo or dairy free diets. 
👩🏻‍🍳
For this and more exclusive videos, recipes + chef tips, use the link in bio to subscribe.  Totally free, I will never sell or share my list. 

I’d love to connect wit you through food + empower you to ditch recipes and learn to REALLY cook. 

#foodiesofinstagram #chefmom #privatechef #ciagrad #privatechef #love #yum #yummy #foodblogger #boiseblogger #nomnom #instafood #instalove #cookies #cookiedough #fromscratch #instafood #foodporn #homemade #edibletimes
I ❤️ milk foam. And in an entirely apolitical I ❤️ milk foam. And in an entirely apolitical sentiment, broken glass.

#inauguration #kamalaharris #brokenglass #madamevicepresident #foodblogger #inauguration2021 #womeninspiringwomen #motivation #girlboss #momboss #strongwomen #coffeeaddict #foam #glassceiling #momblogger #womenblogger #successfulwomen #positivevibes #vicepresident
Ever wonder the best way to prep asparagus? Trimme Ever wonder the best way to prep asparagus? Trimmed? Peeled? Both?  Asparagus season is coming, use link in bio for all the tasty answers.

PLUS asparagus + bacon two ways. 
You know, because I feel you. 🥓 😋

NEW FRIENDS: Follow along here at #edibletimes to ditch recipe drama and learn the methods and formulas of successful, delicious cooking. 👩🏻‍🍳

OLD FRIENDS: Thanks for sticking with me through all the drool-inducing, diet-killing photos.🤷🏻‍♀️
Monday feels: When you check your blog analytics, Monday feels: When you check your blog analytics, and a silly write-up you did on absinthe is your top post. By nearly double the page views. 
😅🤷🏻‍♀️
If the strong stuff is up your alley, use the link in bio. 😄 🍸
Too blustery for outdoor pursuits? 🌬 ❄️ M Too blustery for outdoor pursuits? 
🌬 ❄️ 
Make a Treacle Tart straight outta the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
🧙‍♂️ 

And it can be gluten free! For all you need to know to get baking, use link in bio. 

JOIN IN! Tap my Stories and pick which Hogwart’s treat I should create and share next. 

I’m here for you like that.👩🏻‍🍳
Here’s a little late night reading for a perfect Here’s a little late night reading for a perfect breakfast in the morning. 

The ONE ingredient and ONLY technique you need for perfect, fluffy and tender scrambled eggs. No, not adding milk. 😱 
Chef’s promise. 👩🏻‍🍳 

Use link in bio, or:
https://edibletimes.com/how-to-make-fluffy-scrambled-eggs/

#edibletimes #keto #paleo #glutenfree #glutenfreecooking #glutenfreelife #feedfeed #feedfeedglutenfree #learntocook #norecipe #instayum #nomnom #nofilter #love #breakfast #breakfastideas #breakfastofchampions #foodblogger #eggs #eggsofinstagram #eggstravaganza #instagood #food 

@thefeedfeed @thefeedfeed.glutenfree
14 years ago I wore a strapless gown on our weddin 14 years ago I wore a strapless gown on our wedding day in FL. Today, as we celebrate OUTDOORS in ID I’m wearing thermals and a turtleneck. 

The #bacon is worth it.  If you find yourself in #Idahome, @baconboise highly recommended.

@heathwoodlief ordered the hush puppies.🤷🏻‍♀️

#anniversary #14years #love #instayum #boiseeats #boiseblogger #keto #nomnom #idaho #boise
#glutenfree #yummy #instafood #foodblogger #instagood #edibletimes #foodporn #foodie #goodeats #boiselife

Copyright © 2021 · Refined theme by Restored 316