The Food and Drug Administration randomly selects five stores from each of four randomly selected sections of a large city and checks food items for freshness. These stores are used as a representative sample of the entire city.

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To understand how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) randomly selects stores and food items for freshness checks, let's break down the process step by step:

1. Randomly selecting sections: The first step involves randomly selecting four sections from the large city. This is likely done using a random sampling method, such as using a random number generator or a randomized list of sections. The goal is to ensure that the selected sections are representative of the entire city.

2. Selecting stores from each section: Once the four sections are chosen, the FDA then randomly selects five stores from each of these sections. To accomplish this, they may use a similar random sampling method as in the previous step. The objective is to choose a diverse and unbiased sample of stores within each section.

3. Checking food items for freshness: After selecting the stores, the FDA proceeds to check food items for freshness. This involves inspecting various food products stocked in these stores and evaluating their quality based on predetermined freshness criteria. The specific details of how they assess freshness may vary depending on the regulations and guidelines set by the FDA.

It's important to note that this process is designed to create a representative sample of food items across the entire city, ensuring that inspections are conducted in a random and unbiased manner. The FDA aims to monitor and maintain the quality and safety of food products available to consumers.