The ongoing federal government shutdown has created a crisis that could affect millions of American families who depend on food assistance. With political gridlock continuing in Washington, the consequences are becoming increasingly real for households across the nation who rely on government support to put food on their tables.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that a food company has recalled 4,874,815 pounds of frozen chicken. The chicken may have been contaminated with metal fragments of metal. USDA says the contamination was found after customers made several complaints.