Category: United States healthcare system

When Food Isn’t Safe: Protecting Your Family

The cyclospora food contamination issue, highlighted by a record outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce, has raised concerns about food safety amid federal funding cuts affecting health agencies. With over 17,000 cases this summer, experts question the government’s response timing and ability to handle outbreaks, urging better investment in public health infrastructure.

Although the cyclospora food contamination problem has been the subject of humorous memes on social media, illness due to food borne infections is not to be taken lightly.

At home, you are responsible for thoroughly washing the food you prepare. But elsewhere you have little to no control over the safety of the food you are served.

Here is a recap of the public health response to the outbreak of diarrhea due to cyclospora in the United States this summer. It is followed by some practial advice on protecting your families from foodborne illness.

Thanks to Stateline, Oklahoma Voice, and Anna Vollers for the free use of the following article.

A summer of recalls exposes holes in the nation’s food safety net

by Anna Claire Vollers, Oklahoma Voice
August 31, 2026

Jalapenos. Frozen berries. Beef. Alfalfa sprouts.

A summer of food recalls, including the record-shattering cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce that has sickened thousands, has raised many Americans’ fears of contracting a foodborne illness.

The recalls have focused attention on the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding and staff at several public health agencies, and prompted questions about whether those changes have made consumers more vulnerable.

In fact, this year’s tally of food recalls is roughly in line with the numbers in recent years. About 48 million people each year get sick from a foodborne illness. But experts worry that the scope, severity, and scale of outbreaks and their associated food recalls are growing.

Cyclospora

While the United States sees some cyclosporiasis cases every year, this year’s outbreak has crushed records: Since May, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 17,000 cases, with another nearly 12,000 reported cases still under investigation. The outbreak has resulted in at least 922 hospitalizations and two deaths.

this word slide lists, what in 1996, were those infections that were coming to bear, and reads as follows: “• Ebola in nonhuman primates, Texas; • Raccoon rabies, Ohio; • Cyclospora gastroenteritis, multiple states; • Malaria, Georgia and Florida; • Yellow fever (imported), Tennessee; • E. coli O157:H7 in apple juice, multiple states”.CDC, public domain

Federal officials have blamed this year’s multistate outbreak on processed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico. The lettuce was brought to the U.S. by Taylor Farms, a distributor that supplies foods to thousands of restaurants and grocery stores, including Target, Taco Bell, Whole Foods, Kroger, Walmart, Costco and Jack in the Box.

Quotation

I think there are valid questions around the timing of the response, the time it took for agencies to recognize the outbreak and to start to investigate it, get boots on the ground in Mexico.

– Jennifer McEntire, food microbiologist and founder of Food Safety Strategy

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating at least six other clusters for which a source hasn’t yet been confirmed.

Cuts at the CDC and FDA haven’t necessarily increased consumers’ chances of food contamination or outbreaks, said Jennifer McEntire, a food microbiologist and the founder of a food safety consulting firm. However, McIntire said, “I do think the cuts may have influenced the way outbreaks unfold.”

“I think there are valid questions around the timing of the response, the time it took for agencies to recognize the outbreak and to start to investigate it, get boots on the ground in Mexico,” she said.

Darin Detwiler, a food safety expert and professor emeritus at Northeastern University, noted that the U.S. is seeing more recalls affecting multiple states, rather than a small area. He added that more recalls are being tied to a problem earlier in the food chain — such as contaminated irrigation water at a large lettuce farm rather than, say, improperly stored deli meat at a sandwich shop  — which can spread the pathogen to a far higher number of people and make it harder to track and contain.

“We’re seeing so many people impacted, so many states impacted, and the recalls are dragging on for a long time,” Detwiler. “There’s ambiguity or lack of transparency over who’s even behind a recall.”

The White House dismissed concerns about the federal government’s ability to handle outbreaks.

“The Trump Administration has never cut FDA food inspectors or other frontline personnel for domestic disease response,” White House spokesperson Allison Schuster told Stateline in an email. “

President Trump’s top priority is the health and safety of the American people, and the federal government remains capable of robustly addressing any future outbreaks.”

Fewer Staff, Less Funding

Last year, the Trump administration laid off thousands of employees at federal public health agencies including the CDC, which tracks and responds to disease outbreaks, and the FDA, which oversees and regulates food safety.

While some of the layoffs were reversed through lawsuits or by Congress, the nation’s public health agencies remain at diminished capacity. The CDC workforce has been reduced by 28% since December 2024, according to a Stateline analysis of data from the U.S. Office of Laboratories and Research (OL which responds to outbreaks, was downsized last year by the Department of Government Efficiency from 11 people to three.

Sandra Eskin, a food safety expert who worked in the office of food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Biden administration, likened federal public health cuts to the game Jenga, where players construct a tower of wooden blocks and then remove the blocks one at a time while trying not to make the tower fall.

“I think that’s what we’re seeing,” said Eskin, who now leads a public health nonprofit called Stop Foodborne Illness, which advocates for stronger food safety policies. “Whether it’s cuts in staff, cuts in funding that trickle down to the states, or late responses to outbreaks — these are all pieces of wood in that game where you start pulling them out and then the whole thing collapses.”

The federal government also has delayed requiring companies to comply with new food safety rules, included in a law enacted more than a decade ago, that would help regulators track where food comes from and where it’s going during outbreaks.

Detwiler and other experts say the new rules could have helped speed the government’s sluggish response to the cyclospora outbreak investigation after Taylor Farms initially tried delaying the recall.

Last year, the Trump administration also drastically scaled back FoodNet, an early warning surveillance system that required tracking of infections caused by eight different foodborne pathogens. The federal-state collaboration is now only required to track two pathogens: Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E.coli. The other six pathogens, including cyclospora, were made optional.

This pie chart illustrates the breakdown of the origins of salmonella infections amongst 500 salmonella outbreaks between 1966 and 1975. Sources of infection included pets (3%), dairy products (4%), eggs (6%), person-to-person (10%), meat (13%), poultry (17%), miscellaneous (19%), and unknown (28%).CDC/ Dr. Mike Miller, public domain

The CDC says the change was made because other surveillance systems monitor those pathogens. But McEntire and other food safety experts want them reinstated on FoodNet.

Funding Cuts’ Impact on States

Infectious outbreaks like cyclosporiasis are typically investigated by state and local health departments, which largely rely on federal dollars distributed through the FDA and CDC. Public health has been chronically underfunded for decades under several administrations, experts say.

But the Trump administration since last year has terminated $5.78 billion in CDC grants — funds that were appropriated by Congress but had not yet been spent.

Michigan, at the center of the cyclosporiasis outbreak with the highest number of cases and clusters, is one of 23 states (plus the District of Columbia) that successfully sued the Trump administration in June 2025 over federal funding cuts.

Changes to federal funding last year affected public health infrastructure across Michigan, a representative from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services told Stateline. During the cyclosporiasis outbreak, the state used its own resources to bolster local responses.

“While we are able to support this investigation on a local level, sustained investment in public health capacity is essential to ensuring Michigan can respond effectively to future regional and statewide public health threats,” said department spokesperson Lynn Sutfin.

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org

This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes Oklahoma Voice, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.

The graphics used in the article were not part of the original publication.

Keeping Your Family Safe

4 STEPS TO FOOD SAFETY

The CDC offers these tips for food safety.

To prevent food poisoning, follow the four steps to food safety: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. Keep hands and surfaces clean, keep risky foods separate from other foods, cook food properly, and refrigerate promptly.

Some foods are more likely to contain harmful germs, including:

  • Raw or undercooked poultry, meat, seafood, or eggs
  • Raw or undercooked sprouts
  • Unwashed fruits and vegetables
  • Cut melon
  • Unpasteurized milk, juice, cider, or soft cheese
  • Raw dough or raw batter made with uncooked flour

Explore this topic further at CDC FOOD SAFETY

The most common sources of fatal infections were meat and poultry, much due to Salmonella and Listeria, from the CDC website

Next Steps

Take time to consider what you learned from this article and what else you might need to know.

Consider inspecting your own home for how well it protects your family from food-related illness. While much of the health advice we offer now involves the types of food we eat, the basics of food storage and meal preparation are still important.

How important is this to you and what are your next steps? I’d like to know, so please comment. I try to respond to all comments.

Exploring the HEART of Health

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Dr. Aletha

Expert Predictions about 2026 Health Policy

In this post I review some 2026 healthcare predictions for likely continuation of partisan gridlock, minimal congressional action, and increased focus on health care affordability amid midterm elections. Key issues to watch include ACA enrollment responses, Medicaid work requirements, rising insurance costs, and the impact of AI on consumer health care navigation.

This information is current as of the date of original publication or update but may have changed by the time you read this. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Before making health decisions, discuss with a qualified healthcare professional.

As we anticipate 2026, here is a look at what the federal government may do with healthcare in the United States.

This is a reprint of an article first published on KFF and shared here by permission.

The author is Drew Altman, President and Chief Executive Officer of KFF, a position he has held for over 30 years, founding the KFF organization in the 1990s. He is a leading expert on national health policy issues and an innovator in health journalism and the nonprofit field.

(Note: I have edited this article for length and readability. I linked to the original content so you can read the full sections. The photos are for illustration and are not affiliated with the original article on KFF. AO)

Health Policy in 2026

from Drew Altman, December 8, 2025

Forecasting the year ahead in health policy is always treacherous because events intervene and screw up even the best predictions. But my working theory is that the sharp partisan divide in Congress, and even sharper disagreement on health care policy, can produce only small-ball actions on health next year.

So, what should you watch for that will really matter for people, policy, and politics?

Voter Reaction to the ACA in the Midterms

First and foremost is the role that health care affordability will play in the midterms. Assuming there is no deal on the enhanced ACA (Affordable Care Act) tax credits, spiking premium payments in the Marketplaces will become the national symbol for voters of concerns about their health care bills.

Democrats will prosecute the issue to the fullest, and Republicans will generally try to shift the subject and fight on other issues. Health care affordability will be in the spotlight, but how important it is as a vote-and-turnout driver remains to be determined.

Photo by Edmond Dantu00e8s on Pexels.com

How ACA Enrollment Might Change

Second, again assuming there’s no deal on the tax credits, we’ll see how enrollees actually respond in the Marketplaces. What share of the 24 million enrollees switch to cheaper high-deductible plans? What is the impact of doing that on their financial security and health-seeking behavior? What happens to older and sicker enrollees who need better, more comprehensive coverage? How many millions choose to be uninsured in 2026 and who are they?

Medicaid Work Requirements

Third, states that have expanded Medicaid will be gearing up for Medicaid work requirements, which kick in in 2027.

Red states may be looking for flexibility to implement the toughest possible requirements and reduce their Medicaid rolls and spending.

Blue states will be looking for nooks and crannies in the law and the rules to lessen the impact in the hopes that Democrats seize control again in 2028 and reverse the requirements.

Having implemented state welfare work requirements myself, I know there is always some ability to shade implementation depending on the goals of a state.

In our case in New Jersey, we had little interest in kicking people off welfare (and into homelessness or deep poverty, which we’d also have to address). We did have a big interest in providing job training, childcare, transportation, and a pathway to jobs.

More Expensive Health Insurance

Fourth, after years of moderate increases, health costs will increase more sharply again. Employer premium increases may not touch double digits but could come close.

The average cost of a family policy for employers could approach $30,000. Cost-sharing and deductibles will likely rise again after plateauing for several years.

Employers and public payers are increasingly skittish about the costs of GLP-1s for weight loss. It’s possible GLP-1s could turn from today’s dilemma to a technology-diffusion success story of sorts. (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1)

Costs are coming down, pills are on the horizon, and payers are developing more sensible guidelines for their initial and long-term use.

In a country where the dam breaks on every effective new medical technology and it’s rapidly disseminated at high costs, GLP-1s could emerge as a more balanced and sensible example of technology diffusion. Like most new medical technologies, it still increases costs.  

Drug and Hospital Costs Increase

Fifth, the Trump administration has put pressure on drug prices through a variety of initiatives. Probably the most important is Medicare drug price negotiations, which began in the Biden years, but together they are putting pressure on drug prices.

Still, retail drug spending is only 9% of overall health spending (16% for employers) and there is growing awareness that hospitals gobble up the single largest share of the health care dollar.

Proposals to cap hospital prices or put hospitals on a budget seem to be coming back into fashion again but are non-starters with Republicans in charge, as of course is single payer.

For 2026, we can look generally for greater attention being paid to hospital prices and possibly greater action at the state level, where several states have established hospital cost targets with varying degrees of teeth. 

Prior Authorization Review

Sixth, people (and providers) hate prior authorization review. Will the administration’s voluntary effort to work with industry to streamline and pare back prior authorization result in any concrete relief for patients when it kicks in this year?

MAHA and Vaccinations

Seventh, four in 10 Americans say they identify with the MAHA agenda. We’ll learn more in the coming year about which tenets of this loose movement have staying power. (Make America Healthy Again)

Everyone is for exercise and for healthier food for kids (although I do still miss those Hostess Cupcakes and Twinkies that I had as a kid).

But people who have serious illnesses may grow tired of the central MAHA notion that they are personally responsible for disease and may increasingly make the connection between their own need for medical care and cuts in Medicaid and ACA coverage.

President Trump and Secretary Kennedy at the MAHA commission meeting, public domain photo

There is some overlap between MAHA and the anti-vax movement. Another thing to watch: will vaccination rates continue to decline as the administration chips away at universal vaccination and trust in vaccines?

Patients Using AI for Health

Eighth, AI means a lot for physicians, researchers, hospitals, insurance companies, and investors, with profound implications in some areas of medicine, such as radiology. But when will AI start having real meaning for the things people care about most: their costs and their ability to navigate the health system? (AI-Artificial Intelligence)

The implications and practical applications for consumers receive far less attention, as generally does the relatively low level of trust in AI. Possibly, 2026 will be the year when attention shifts more seriously to the consumer side of AI in health. 

Conclusion

All told, it will be a big year ahead in health policy. And this list only just scratches the surface. (Others include the CDC, NIH, FDA, and Medicare.)

But there probably won’t be a lot of significant action in Congress. Still, every incremental change is a big fight in health care, and hard won, and in a hyper-partisan Congress, 2026 will be no different. 

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

How health policies may affect you.

Based on what you know now, how likely are these predictions correct?

Which of these issues are most important to your healthcare?

How will you respond to health policy changes that affect you? What information do you need?

How do you and your family contribute to “making America healthy again”?

Cover Photo

The cover image was created by the AI feature of Jetpack. (affiliate link)

Exploring the HEART of Health

I appreciate your time reading this post and invite you to follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

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Dr Aletha