Government Shutdown Begins To Threaten Mid-Michigan Food Safety [VIDEO]

I don't know if you're aware of this but the government shutdown furloughed workers in the Food and Drug Administration. That means food inspection.

Meaning, the food you buy at the grocery store is not getting the same inspections it once did. Nearly half of FDA workers have been furloughed, meaning your food is no longer being inspected by the federal government.

Federal meat inspectors will continue to examine all meats but health officials advise being extra cautious with produce, especially from overseas. Here's something you can do on your own. Make sure and wash your hands and wash your produce before serving it. Especially anything that isn't going to be cooked like a salad or a vegetable.

Something that has always served me well when it comes to grocery shopping: If it doesn't look right it usually isn't. Be very careful with meat that's on sale because it's getting old. Cheap sometimes means sick.

Also furloughed, 78 percent of workers for the Centers for Disease Control. They are charged with monitoring food borne illnesses leaving fewer workers to detect and keep track of reports of bacteria in food.