Is Our Food System Safe?
A rash of food-borne illnesses and recalls in the last five months — including a listeria outbreak in cucumbers — has consumers and experts both questioning the safety of the U.S. food system.
Food Recalls Up 25%
Some experts say the nation’s food production industry, which takes in $850 billion in revenue each year, is working as designed. Federal inspectors caught contaminated food and worked with manufacturers to organize nationwide recalls. However, others point to the numerous deaths attributable to food-borne illnesses, and the dozens who were hospitalized after eating tainted food. They also note that the number of recalls this year has increased 25% over last year.
Recalled items have included meats, vegetables such as bags of organic carrots and even frozen waffles. Just last week, the FDA announced a recall on cucumbers tainted with salmonella.
Fifth Recall Since Summer
YuShang Food products are sold in stores and online. A total of 11 illnesses, including nine hospitalizations and one death, have been reported in California, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. The FDA has created a full list of the recalled items and product labels.
The impact of the tainted food has ranged from illness and hospitalizations to death. Several recalls were carried out with no discernible illnesses reported.
‘Safety System is Not Working’
Frank Yiannas, a former FDA deputy commissioner, agrees. In an op-ed published in Food Safety News, Yiannas argues that detecting outbreaks and illnesses “is not a sign that our food safety system is working.” While Yiannas says he is “grateful” the public health surveillance system has improved, “the fact that the outbreaks are still happening is of concern and unacceptable.”
Conclusion
The frequency of food recalls, illness outbreaks, and deaths leads many to ask if our food supply is getting less safe than in previous years. While some experts believe the system is working as designed, others argue that the number of recalls and outbreaks indicates a need for improvement.
FAQs
* What is the current list of food currently under some level of recall by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration?
* The current list of food under recall by the FDA can be found on the FDA’s website.
* How many recalls have been announced this year?
* According to the FDA, there have been 1,908 recalls of “food and/or cosmetics” this year, compared to 1,563 in 2023.
* What are the most common types of food recalled?
* The most common types of food recalled are meats, vegetables, and frozen products.
* How can I stay safe from foodborne illnesses?
* To stay safe from foodborne illnesses, consumers should always follow safe food handling practices, such as cooking food to the recommended internal temperature, avoiding cross-contamination, and refrigerating perishable foods promptly.
