Foodborne illness outbreaks surge as climate change and staffing cuts strain U.S. safety systems
The United States has experienced unprecedented outbreaks of cyclospora, salmonella, listeria and E. coli this summer, a trend experts link to warmer temperatures, a globalized food supply and reductions in federal public-health staffing.
More than 17,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in the United States since May, surpassing previous annual totals that never exceeded a few hundred, public health officials said. The surge coincides with a listeria death linked to ricotta cheese, nearly 100 salmonella infections from recalled eggs, over 400 cases tied to contaminated jalapeños, and a recent FDA warning about frozen blueberries suspected of containing E. coli. A multi-state outbreak of salmonella and E. coli linked to alfalfa sprouts has also hospitalized four patients.
Epidemiologists attribute the rise to several factors. "Climate change has allowed pathogens like cyclospora…to expand from the tropic, subtropic lines into areas more north and south of that tropic line," said Joseph Eisenberg, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He added that warming temperatures create humid conditions that favor the growth of salmonella and E. coli, increasing the risk of contamination in fresh produce.
The increasingly globalized food supply further complicates safety efforts. Most recent cyclospora outbreaks have been traced to imported produce, including iceberg lettuce from Mexico, and the long, multi-stage distribution chain for items such as bagged salad kits introduces multiple points where pathogens can enter.
Federal capacity to monitor and respond to these threats has declined following extensive staffing reductions. The FDA eliminated about 3,500 positions at the start of the second Trump administration, and combined cuts across the FDA, USDA and CDC amount to roughly 22 % of the workforce, according to the Partnership for Public Service. Reuters reported a 25 % drop in CDC staff between January and October 2025, and CBS noted that scientists tracking food parasites at the agency fell from 11 to three.
"There have been a lot of federal cuts. There have been cuts around CDC surveillance, around state and local public health. You’ve lost people," Dr. Anurag Malani, vice chief of staff at Trinity Health’s Ann Arbor campus, said.
State and local health departments are now shouldering more responsibility as federal programs for monitoring foodborne illness, including a specific cyclospora surveillance program, were discontinued in 2025. Hospital epidemiologist Dr. Kathleen Linder described the resulting lag in information as a challenge for timely response.
Experts warn that without rebuilding staffing and modernizing food-safety infrastructure, the United States may face a persistent rise in outbreaks as climate trends continue and the food supply remains globally interconnected.