US food safety oversight strained by funding cuts and high-profile recalls

A series of significant food recalls in the United States has intensified public concern, with recent incidents involving contaminated lettuce, eggs, and berries sickening thousands of consumers. The Food and Drug Administration recently recalled more than one million eggs from Midwest Poultry Services due to potential salmonella contamination, which had been distributed to Kroger and smaller grocery stores across the South and Southwest. Separately, Taylor Farms removed more than a dozen products containing jalapeños, including guacamole and salsa, after its supplier, Coast Citrus Distributors, recalled fresh peppers for the same reason.

These events follow a massive cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce, which contributed to more than 9,000 illnesses and may become the third-largest recorded foodborne illness outbreak in US history. Other recent recalls include frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold at Publix stores over E. coli concerns, as well as Outshine fruit bars removed for potential glass contamination. The recent wave of alerts has also extended to non-food items such as dog food and eye drops.

Despite the high profile of these incidents, the total number of recalls in 2026 is slightly lower than in previous years. According to the Poynter Institute, there have been 122 food and beverage recalls as of 31 July, compared with 135 during the same period in 2025 and 146 in 2024. However, experts note that individual events have affected exceptionally large quantities of food. Darin Detwiler, a professor emeritus at Northeastern University, observed that while the total count may not be significantly higher, the scale of specific recalls means a handful of large events can expose far more consumers than dozens of smaller ones.

The heightened perception of risk is partly attributed to increased media coverage and social media amplification. News outlets and online personalities have widely shared FDA and US Department of Agriculture recall notices, leading to what experts describe as "recall fatigue." Edward Dudley, a professor of food science at Pennsylvania State University, noted that while increased media attention is beneficial for public awareness, it does not necessarily reflect a concerning uptick in actual risk. Detwiler warned that when recall notices become background noise, consumers may stop paying attention or begin to view outbreaks as an unavoidable cost of a complex food system.

Complicating the oversight landscape are federal funding cuts under the Trump administration. The FDA’s budget decreased by $271 million compared to the previous year, with over 4,300 employees cut in 2025 and 2026. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also slashed more than 2,800 jobs. The Government Accountability Office reported in February that the FDA is dealing with staffing shortages even as the number of required safety inspections increases. Additionally, the CDC recently pulled back on efforts to track certain foodborne diseases, removing pathogens like cyclospora, listeria, and shigella from its surveillance program.

Regulatory delays have further complicated traceability efforts. The FDA pushed back the enforcement deadline for the Traceability Rule from January 2026 to 2028. This rule introduces new record-keeping requirements for businesses that manufacture, process, pack, or hold certain foods, including fresh leafy greens, peppers, eggs, and tomatoes, with the goal of making it easier to track and remove contaminated products. With fewer federal staff members and delayed regulations, the ability to detect and avoid recalls has been challenged. Detwiler suggested that the solution lies in preventing more recalls, communicating clearly when they occur, and strengthening the institutions responsible for detecting hazards.