Federal Budget Cuts Could Mean Fewer Food Facility Inspections - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- Impending federal budget cuts could mean fewer government safety inspections and higher prices for meat at your local grocery store.

A White House memo released late last week says a consequence of the federal budget cuts set to take effect on March 1 would lead to 2,100 fewer food facility inspections by the FDA, "Putting families at risk and costing billions on lost food production."

Department of Agriculture inspectors could be furloughed for up to 15 days.

That would force meat packing plants to shutdown and limit meat supplies in grocery stores, which would lead to higher prices.

The White House is hoping to find a way to avert the cuts.