The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that the federal government's spending cuts will mean fewer food safety inspections by the agency and could cause an increased risk to consumers, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

As many as 2,100 food safety inspections would be eliminated in 2013 because the FDA does not have the funding, according to the AP. The federal budget cuts would also create a delay in a new food safety law that requires the FDA to increase its oversight over the food industry, the AP reported. The law also called for food and farm facilities to take extra measures to ensure their products are safe for consumers, according to the article.

"We're going to be struggling with how to really grapple with the cuts of sequestration," said FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, the AP reported. "[Cl]early we will be able to provide less of the oversight functions, and we won't be able to broaden our reach to new facilities either, so inevitably that increases risk."

Michael Taylor, an FDA deputy commissioner, said the agency is still trying to figure out how to put the new food safety law into place while saving money, the AP reported. The FDA will look into conducting food safety inspections that take less time, the article stated.

Those affected by defective or unsafe products can contact a Chicago personal injury attorney to discuss potential legal action.