What does a border wall between the US and Mexico, and your dinner here in Canada have in common?
One appears to be affecting the other.
A food expert in Canada is sounding the alarm that the partial US government shutdown, could have an effect on your food coming in from the US.
Sylvain Charlebois is a professor of food safety and distribution at Dalhousie University, who says the food is still being inspected, there's just no oversight.
"Where meat is concerned, most plants are autonomous and have inspectors on the payroll. Regular audits are conducted, so there is no need for daily inspections by the USDA. The same rules apply to the FDA. Most facilities are inspected every other year and weren't scheduled to be inspected during the government shutdown. So inspections won't be affected by what's happening in Washington, but that doesn't mean that food safety compliance across the industry is not compromised -- far from it."
He goes on to say "The government shutdown has hampered the ability for both the USDA and the FDA to provide regulatory oversight for a system that feeds millions of people around the world, including many Canadians. Any outbreaks or emerging issues won't be assessed or addressed until everyone goes back to work."
The amount of food that comes into Canada from the US, is about half of all fruits and vegetables, equalling more than $16 billion.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency doesn't seem as concerned, releasing the following statement:
"In response to your question, all food and agricultural products sold in Canada, whether domestic or imported, must comply with Canadian laws and regulations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) remains vigilant, as always, regarding food safety concerns. Meat inspection delivered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratory operations in support of this program are continuing. At the present time, the CFIA has received no indication of food safety concerns. Our ongoing import surveillance, inspections and controls continue to apply and if we become aware of problems with imported products from the U.S., appropriate action will be taken."
Charlebois says as the shutdown issues get sorted out, it might be up to retailers to blow the whistle, as they did during the last Romaine lettuce outbreak.
"If grocers or retailers are starting to hear things from the United States, they're likely to pull certain products coming from the US."
But he says, it's hard to believe that this is even happening.
"All of this for a wall. Imagine, we might be comprimising the safety of consumers over a border wall."