A few things to consider when addressing this question.
- After looking at food-related outbreaks posted on CDC and FDA's website, there is no real increase in the number when looking at cases for the past several years, but there does seem to be a higher percentage of outbreaks where the causative agent has been identified. Our regulatory agencies are doing a admirable job in improving the determination of the source of outbreaks. At the same time, I have seen companies doing a better job to be in compliance with the HACCP-based regulations or 3rd party audit standards..
- Technology has improved identification and tracking of outbreaks. Twenty years or more ago, many of these outbreaks would not have been identified as outbreaks. CDC working with State partners utilize improved technology for identification of pathogens and communication to link related cases.
- Most recalls are not linked to outbreaks, but that is not always clear when announcements get published in the news.. There are normally a number of recalls each week, but they are most often related to things such as undeclared allergens which are most often discovered in the supply chain through observation, and not injury.
- Risk is not adequately addressed in news releases, and in many cases, overblown. For example, many people will not be allergic to the undeclared allergen in a product, but one would not know that in the headline. For example, Salad Recall Update as FDA Sets Highest Risk Level, ad the article states, "On August 7, the recall was classified by the FDA as Class I, which is the highest risk level. These are issued when there is a "reasonable probability" that the use of, or exposure to, a product could "cause serious adverse health consequences or death."" However, the issue is that the product contains undeclared almond and soy, certainly an issue for those who are allergic to these items, but not for others.
- Headlines used by the news media, including social media, present these outbreaks and recalls with a certain shock value. Take this headline for example - "FDA reclassifies nut recall to highest risk warning after testing positive for listeria" (article below) that was published on August 13th. The recall was posted on the FDA website on 7/22/24. There were no illnesses, but it seems that FDA reclassified this to Class I, which it should have been to start. In this case, the product was walnuts, not a product that will not support the growth of Listeria and so poses.
- Recalls are often limited in scope in terms of distribution but receive national attention. The walnut recall mentioned was limited to two states but receive national attention.
- We see recalls are posted and then reposted for weeks. Many times, it is an online news source that posts recalls weeks after the initial posting. This can make it seem like it is a new recall. Without investigation by the reader, one may assume it is a new recall.
- The regulatory agencies will often provide updates to an outbreak listing additional cases or announcing that the outbreak is now over, and this information may get picked up as news providers and posted as if this is a new issue.
In general, we are bombarded with notices on food safety, and without careful investigation by the reader, one may think that food safety issues are out of control.
There are over 330 million people in the US, and if we consider that people are hopefully eating 2 to 3 meals each day, the reported number of cases of foodborne illness are pretty small. This is not to say it is unimportant, because all food should be safe. However, to worry that our food supply is not safe...well, there are many other, more things to worry more about.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/fda-reclassifies-nut-recall-highest-risk-warning-after-testing-positive-listeria
FDA reclassifies nut recall to highest risk warning after testing positive for listeria
Shelled walnuts voluntarily recalled last month tested positive for listeria, FDA says
