Tag: CDC

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

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.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

Tick-Borne Diseases: Smart Tips for Prevention

This post will help you understand and avoid health risks from ticks. Ticks pose a growing risk for diseases in the U.S., particularly in warmer climates. Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome are among the most common illnesses caused by ticks. Preventative measures include using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and timely tick removal to minimize disease transmission.

As a practicing family physician, I occasionally saw patients concerned about a tick bite. Most of the time, they had already removed the tick but were concerned about the possibility of an infection. I was usually able to reassure them that the tick had not been attached long enough to transmit a disease. If they had symptoms or were not sure how long the tick had been on their body, I would prescribe an antibiotic to cover the most likely infection.

Humans can catch infectious diseases in multiple ways. The pathogens that make us sick can enter our bodies through water, food, the air, and even direct contact with other people or their bodily fluids like blood.

Another source is contact with animals, including ones we may not see. The vast majority of these, the vector-borne diseases, are caused by ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and lice.

Ticks are small arachnids in the mite family that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Ticks can transmit bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause illness in humans and animals

The most common tick-borne diseases in the U.S. include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Symptoms typically include flu-like fever, chills, and fatigue, but can also involve unique indicators like a “bullseye” rash (Lyme disease). Most bacterial infections are successfully treated with antibiotics, making early diagnosis crucial. [1, 2, 3, 4]

This 2007 photograph depicts the pathognomonic erythematous rash in the pattern of a bull’s-eye, referred to as erythema migrans. The rash manifested at the site of a tick bite, on this Maryland woman’s posterior upper arm, signifying a case of Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and transmitted to humans, by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks.CDC/ James Gathany, public domain

Ticks can also cause non-infectious diseases. Tick paralysis is caused by a toxin in the tick’s saliva. Symptoms include weakness or even paralysis that gradually moves up the body.

Another example is the alpha-gal syndrome, AGS, discussed in this article. People with AGS can have an allergic reaction after eating red meat or being exposed to products containing alpha-gal.

Tick bites are surging in the US this year. Here’s what to know.

by Amelia Twyman, Oklahoma Voice
July 6, 2026

WASHINGTON — The prime time for ticks is here in the United States, and after an especially active start to the season, experts are urging the public to stay alert and take preventive measures. 

Monthly emergency department visits for tick bites in April spiked to their highest level since 2017 and continued to remain high throughout May and June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tick bite tracker.

Though it’s hard to predict what the rest of the season will look like, given that tick activity depends on a number of different factors, there has definitely been a recent geographic expansion of the area ticks inhabit, said Pilar Fernandez, a disease ecologist and assistant professor at Washington State University. 

The tiny blood-suckers, which tend to thrive in warmer climates, are spreading to places that used to be too cold for their existence, she said during a July 1 SciLine media briefing, as temperatures rise in the United States and around the world.

With more ticks comes a greater risk of individuals developing tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome and anaplasmosis. That’s why researchers are encouraging people to know their facts and learn how to protect themselves from bites as they venture outdoors. 

What’s going on this year?

According to the CDC, an estimated 31 million people are bitten by ticks each year, with most encounters taking place between April and October. But in 2026, ER visits began rising as early as March. 

Weekly ER trips for tick bites are also up in every U.S. region except for South Central as of June 28, the online tick tracker shows. 

Global warming is certainly one reason behind this recent surge in tick activity, though Fernandez said the whole picture is much more complicated.

Because ticks can live for up to two to three years, it’s difficult to understand the delayed seasonal effects of increased temperatures or precipitation on their population, she said.

Other factors including local environmental conditions and how much time people spend outside can have an impact on annual tick encounters, she added. 

Every spring and summer, she said, people ask her if it’s going to be a “big year” for ticks, which is “a really hard question to answer, because it’s not equal across all locations.” 

Most tick cases are recorded in the Northeast and Midwest, but different species of ticks are found in every region of the country. And as the population expands into areas where people are unaware of how to protect themselves and unaccustomed to checking for bites, the threat of contracting a tick-borne infection grows, Fernandez said. 

Tick-borne diseases

Ticks carry pathogens that they then pass on to humans by biting into their skin and feeding on their blood. An untreated tick bite can lead to the development of one of nearly 20 different human diseases in the U.S., the most common of which is Lyme disease — about 476,000 patients are treated annually, according to the CDC. 

Another tick-borne infection that has been on the rise is Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes people to experience a serious allergic reaction after they eat red meat or other animal products that contain the sugar molecule alpha-gal. It is most commonly associated with the lone star species of tick distributed throughout the Northeastern, Southern and Midwestern United States. 

Haemaphysalis longicornis  ticks, commonly known as the longhorned tick. The smaller of the two ticks on the left, was a nymph. The larger tick was an adult female. Males are rare.
 CDC, James Gathany, public domain

Initial symptoms of tick-borne illnesses are unspecific and often the same as those that come with regular sickness, such as a fever, headache, muscle aches and joint pain, according to Alvaro Toledo, an associate professor in the Department of Entomology at Rutgers who also spoke at the July 1 media briefing. 

“Physicians need to be vigilant and aware if they receive a patient with symptoms that are compatible with a tick-borne disease,” he said.

What if you find a tick?

If one discovers a tick on the skin, Toledo said the proper response is to first quickly remove the tick with tweezers by pinching and pulling it up in a vertical motion, then disinfecting the area and monitoring for signs of sickness. 

People should not, on the other hand, deal with a tick by burning it off or applying petroleum jelly to the bite, said University of Wisconsin-Madison Assistant Professor Adela Oliva Chavez, a tick researcher, at the briefing. 

“Those are myths,” she warned. 

Ticks typically do not transmit infection until after they have been attached to the skin for 24 hours, which is why the CDC recommends people aim to remove the pests as soon as possible within the first day.   

However, experts say the most effective way to prevent tickborne disease in humans is by limiting exposure to ticks in the first place.  

Toledo said people should use chemical sprays such as permethrin on their clothing and classic bug repellents on their skin to keep ticks away. It’s also a good idea to wear long, light-colored clothing when spending time in forests and other highly vegetated areas where ticks are abundant. 

But, he added as a reminder to the public, there is “no zero-risk zone anywhere when you go out … even in your backyard, risk is not zero.” 

Individuals can further reduce their chance of acquiring a tick bite by checking their pets just as often themselves, according to Oliva Chavez. Dogs and cats can easily bring ticks into the house from outside, and if they aren’t yet attached to the animal’s flesh, they can make their way onto humans, she said. 

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. Article reprinted here under Creative Commons license.

Cover Image

from the Public Health Image Library, CDC

“Keeping your furry pets healthy includes keeping them clean, as well. Together, this family was in the process of washing their Labrador retriever outside in the fresh air. With help from two neighbor girls, the mother, young daughter, and son, were all soaping down the dog’s coat, while the father was steadying the pet using a leash and his hand.

By washing down his coat, chances for the animal to bring contaminants indoors, is highly reduced. After returning from the outdoors, pets can bring allergens, disease vectors such as ticks and fleas, and pathogens from other animals indoors, thereby exposing the entire family to these dangers. One should remember to wash his/her hands after finishing this activity.”

CDC/ Dawn Arlotta, public domain

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.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha