There are some rustlings about the FDA ending routine food inspections in the US. They have already fired anyone associated to food inspection as far as I can gather and rumors are they will contract out inspection to private entities.

This affects Canadian consumers. Vegetables grown in the US under these rules are sold in Canada to Canadian consumers. As an example, where we live we cannot buy lettuce, greens or bagged salads that are not from the US. Most imported vegetables are not tested in Canda as they are tested within in the US system first then exported. That means the only regulatory controls on many fresh vegetables and fruits will be grading and packaging standards. This is just being implemented by the US regime and Canadians need to know about it.

One can only assume this will apply to ALL IMPORTED AMERICAN FOODS not just fruits and vegetables, but packaged goods and other fresh food products.

Until this is changed by the government in the ever moving world of trade relations and tariffs Canadian supermarkets will still be supplied with these untested food products.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-fda-suspends-food-safety-quality-checks-after-staff-cuts-2025-04-17/

  • Randomgal@lemmy.ca
    5·
    2 days ago

    So you have any source for there not being import quality controls?

    This is why the EU doesn’t import American food,

    • Perhapsjustsniffit@lemmy.caOP
      11·
      2 days ago

      I am a disabled small farmer and know much of this from our farming activity. I also searched the government of Canada website to ensure I was correct, for the rules around importing fresh vegetables. I’ll see if I can find the link again for you when I get home.

    • Perhapsjustsniffit@lemmy.caOP
      8·
      2 days ago

      Here is a page with the non Canadian bodies in charge of testing prior to importation per vegetable or fruit. We test imports in Canada for pesticide residues and sulfites but there are also ministerial exemptions as well. That means some foods that don’t even meet Canadian standards can be imported and sold here with permission of the canadian government.

      You can also find links from here to all the answers you are looking for regarding imported fresh vegetables and I believe any other imported food products though I didn’t do a deep dive. They are mostly categorized by product and don’t just include import details for 'murica but all the countries Canada imports from.

      I was specifically looking for details about lettuce and leafy greens in my search.

      https://inspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/food-imports/food-specific-requirements/fresh-fruit-vegetables#a5