Food Safety in the U.S.: How Mass Layoffs Are Threatening Our Meals
In recent years, the landscape of food safety in the United States has faced significant challenges, culminating in dire concerns following massive layoffs within health agencies. With 10,000 jobs cut from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on April 1, the implications for food safety are alarming.
Deteriorating Food Safety Standards
Before the recent layoffs, food safety advocates were already raising red flags. In a restructuring push under the Biden Administration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) saw substantial budget cuts that affected state-level food inspections. A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in January 2025 underscored these concerns, urging the FDA to fortify inspection efforts to safeguard the U.S. food supply. The emphasis was on adhering to the foundational goals of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which mandates that farmers monitor irrigation water to prevent contamination with manure. Unfortunately, many of these vital regulations are now being postponed or rolled back.
Voices of Advocacy: A Troubling Response
Darin Detwiler, a food safety advocate, poignantly describes the chronic shortfall in funding and staffing that has plagued this sector for years. His perspective is deeply affected by personal tragedy; his son lost his life to E. coli poisoning from a Jack in the Box outbreak in 1993. According to Detwiler, "We have always had a problem with having adequate funding and staffing for the level of complication that is food safety in the U.S."
This backdrop of inadequate resources became even more problematic in 2024, as multiple foodborne illness outbreaks were reported across the country. Among these were fatal E. coli outbreaks tied to McDonald’s slivered onions and organic carrots sold in grocery stores, alongside a listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that tragically claimed ten lives.
The Fallout from Job Cuts
The FDA layoffs, which totalled 2,500 positions, included critical personnel from the Human Foods Program responsible for maintaining food safety. Furthermore, reduced capacities at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hindered timely responses to outbreaks, leaving consumers and industry stakeholders uninformed during crises.
Prior to these layoffs, the Trump administration had already dismantled two essential committees focused on food safety, undermining efforts to protect vulnerable populations, such as infants at risk from devastating bacterial outbreaks linked to baby formula. The current reality, food safety advocates assert, is that the already strained system will likely lead to increased sickness and fatalities among consumers.
Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, warns that as essential personnel have been let go, "People will get sick, or worse." The stark reality is that food safety in the U.S. is hanging by a thread.
A Steep Decline in Inspections
Even with the administration’s insistence that frontline workers are pivotal for food safety, data shows that the FDA’s inspection capabilities have lagged far behind mandated requirements. Notably, the last comprehensive inspection of domestic food facilities, as dictated by the Food Safety Modernization Act, occurred in 2018. A staggering 49% of high-risk facilities went uninspected by the FDA in 2023, revealing a critical oversight.
Budget cuts are further complicating the situation. States—tasked with approximately 90% of produce facility inspections and 50% of manufactured food inspections—are seeing slashes to their inspection budgets, undermining their capacity to manage food safety effectively.
The Impact on State Responses
State food safety departments are now racing against time to reallocate remaining funds. Cuts of up to 60% for "rapid response" teams have left them ill-equipped to handle outbreaks swiftly. Katherine Simon, head of Minnesota’s food safety division, expresses profound concern over the cascade of consequences that these funding cuts will entail, including the loss of experienced inspectors and inefficient operational practices.
A Bleak Future for Outbreak Responses
The impact of mass layoffs extends to entities like the CDC’s Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, which once effectively coordinated responses to food safety crises. With a reported 144 positions lost, states are left stranded without vital assistance during outbreaks. This division was not merely reactive; it also played a pivotal role in shaping food safety standards through research and direct intervention strategies.
Enforced Compliance Under Threat
The highly lauded Food Safety Modernization Act, heralded for modernizing food safety protocols after decades of stagnation, is now at risk of becoming obsolete. Key provisions designed to improve traceability and accountability within the food supply chains are facing significant delays. For instance, the FDA recently announced a 30-month postponement for a rule on food traceability, a move that could hamper data collection crucial for identifying the source of outbreaks swiftly. Additionally, tests on irrigation water for pathogens have shifted to an "honor system," raising further concerns about food safety standards.
Conclusion: Protecting Our Plates
While U.S. government agencies may present a facade of enhanced food safety, the troubling cuts and lapses in enforcement beg the question: are Americans truly safer? With less oversight and fewer resources, we risk a future where foodborne illnesses go undetected, and our meals are less secure. Food safety advocates warn that as the ripple effects of these layoffs take hold, the full extent of the damage may only unfold over time, posing significant health risks to the public.
To stay informed and ensure your food safety, follow CDC’s food safety guidelines and advocate for more robust health policies. Together, we can help safeguard our meals for tomorrow.
