Bad bugs in deli meats did their part to help fuel a wave of recent foodborne illness outbreaks—including a few that have been associated with meats from Boar's Head and McDonald's Quarter Pounders—many Americans are likely worrying over the safety of their food. Experts, though, say it remains one of the safest.
Notes the FDA: The U.S. ranks very nearly at the head of the Global Food Security Index, which cites, "The U.S. food supply remains one of the safest in the world." The country experiences, however, more than 300 food recalls annually, and thanks to the role of the FDA and USDA, most of them are targeted at keeping consumers safe from those harsh outcomes. In fact, an estimated 800 foodborne illness outbreaks are reported annually, affecting millions of people although most cases are not associated with any particular recall.
While the number of recalls is rapid—more than 300 to date by mid-October—experts say these recalls actually mean detection methods are more efficient, whether through genetic sequencing or another method, rather than the food supply being in decline. "I don't think the food supply is getting less safe," Rutgers University food science expert Donald Schaffner said.
Data indicate that progress in reducing foodborne illness in the United States is moving at a snail's pace, and change has been slight since the 2016-2018 period. Outbreaks that include this year's deadly listeria crisis tied to products made by Boar's Head and McDonald's E. coli continue to populate lists of public health woes. "Food safety is a serious public health issue. All food carries risk," said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of George Washington University's Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security.
The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 gave the agency greater control over food safety practice. A rule effective in 2026 will require suppliers to trace produce such as onions back to their origin. Those are but a few of the pieces to the puzzle, said Kowalcyk, reminding us food safety depends on layers of protections—not least of which is inspection and watching by consumers.
Finally, he said that funding challenges would interfere with these efforts, according to FDA Chief Dr. Robert Califf while commenting that this agency's funding hasn't been changed for decades and happens at such a late age that it compares to sound rather than the modern food systems.
Consumers do have a role to play in the food safety arena, Kowalcyk said, by following safe food handling practices in one's home and advocating for food safety policies. "You can reach out to your congressional representative and tell them food safety is important to you," she advised.