Report criticizes FDA safety effort

A federal report says the Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to combat food-borne illness are hampered by factors including not enough staff.

The Government Accountability Office says in the draft report obtained by the Associated Press that other reasons include infrequent inspections and the lack of a program devoted to the safety of fresh produce.

The report says only 1% of produce imported into the U.S. is inspected. It says the practice of mixing produce from several sources makes it hard to trace contamination.