As food recalls mount, experts warn Trump has hollowed out America’s food safety system

A record-breaking cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms has sickened over 17,000 confirmed cases, with nearly 12,000 more under investigation, 922 hospitalizations, and two deaths since May. It's one of several major recalls this summer, including jalapenos, frozen berries, beef and alfalfa sprouts, that have drawn scrutiny to the Trump administration's cuts at the CDC and FDA.

Food safety experts say the overall recall count is roughly typical, but the scope and severity of outbreaks are growing, with more multistate contamination traced to problems earlier in the food chain, like irrigation water, which spreads pathogens further and makes tracking harder. The CDC's parasite surveillance staff was cut from 11 to three people, foreign facility inspections hit historic lows, and CDC and FDA staffing are down 28% and 23% respectively since December 2024.

White House spokesperson Allison Schuster told Stateline the administration 'has never cut FDA food inspectors or other frontline personnel' and that the government 'remains capable of robustly addressing any future outbreaks.' Experts including Sandra Eskin liken the cuts to a game of Jenga, warning that pulling out enough pieces eventually collapses the tower.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.