Food Safety Inspectors Struggle With More Imports

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"If they are only checking 1 percent of the stuff and finding lotsof problems, then ... there are a lot of problems that are nevercaught," she said.
 
What is getting stopped, critics say, is representative of what isgetting through. Overall, about 15 percent of the U.S. food supply and 60 percent offresh fruits and vegetables consumed are imported, according to theU.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.
 
Mexico is the second-largest foreign source of agriculturalproducts and seafood for the U.S. - moving to No. 1 during thewinter months and filling about 60 percent of the supermarketproduce aisle. It's the worst offender when it comes to foodshipments turned away at the border by U.S. inspectors, a review offood rejections shows. In Laredo, trucks sent to a dock for inspection are greeted by ahired crew that unloads samples of broccoli, tomatoes and driedcorn husks used for wrapping tamales. Customs and FDA inspectorscheck for poisons or pests that could damage U.S. agriculture.
 
On another dock, manufactured goods are hauled out of rigs byforklift and inspected for safety issues, such as lead in toys.Even tigers on their way to a U.S. circus tour are checked out forpotential health risks.
 
"Whatever is put in front of you, you are going to make sure itmeets all of the regulations in order to be introduced into thecountry," said Mucia Dovalina, a veteran inspector and publicaffairs liaison for Customs and Border Protection. The problem, officials and analysts say, is the result of sometimessubstandard agricultural practices south of the border, and a U.S.food inspection system that has become so overwhelmed thatPresident Bush endorsed a 50-step plan that would put more emphasison inspections in the countries of origin.