The CDC reduced its FoodNet monitoring program, now tracking only Salmonella and shigatoxigenic E. coli, abandoning detection of six other dangerous pathogens (Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, Yersinia). Critics warn this will blindside public health defenses, reversing decades of progress in food safety.
Established
in 1996, FoodNet provided active surveillance – sending officials to
labs in 10 states to confirm cases rather than relying on passive
reporting. It revealed 76 million annual foodborne illnesses, 325,000
hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, shaping modern food safety policies.
The
CDC claims behind the scenes that stagnant budgets (stuck at $72
million) forced the reduction, but experts call this a dangerous
justification for dismantling an early warning system. Without active
surveillance, rising outbreaks may go undetected, spreading further
before action is taken.
Advocates like Barbara Kowalcyk,
who lost her son to E. coli, warn this erodes decades of progress in
food safety laws. Some fear deliberate undercounting will be used to
justify deregulation, creating a false illusion of safety.
Maryland
will continue tracking all pathogens, but Colorado warns it may scale
back if federal funding drops in 2026. Georgia reported not even
receiving official notice from the CDC, highlighting disorganization in
implementation....<<<Read More>>>....
