A new salmonella outbreak, linked to Florida-based Bedner Growers’ cucumbers, has sickened at least 26 people across 15 states, with nine hospitalizations. These cucumbers, distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales between April 29 and May 19, are suspected to be the source of illness reported between April 2 and 28. The outbreak follows a larger 2024 outbreak involving the same grower, and investigations reveal matching salmonella strains in both incidents. Consumers are urged to discard any cucumbers of uncertain origin.
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Following initial layoffs impacting drug and food safety, the FDA has announced a partial reversal of job cuts. Scientists in drug safety labs and food safety labs, along with some support staff, will be reinstated. This reversal, attributed to inaccurate data from HHS’s HR divisions, affects scientists in Puerto Rico, Detroit, Chicago, and San Francisco. However, the impact of the initial cuts remains significant, with delays in drug safety work, stalled foreign inspections, and unpaid expenses.
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The USDA has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have mandated salmonella limits in poultry products, citing over 7,000 public comments. This decision reverses a Biden-era initiative aimed at reducing the 1.35 million annual salmonella infections, many foodborne, and approximately 420 associated deaths. Industry groups applauded the withdrawal, while advocates criticized the move as prioritizing industry concerns over public health. The USDA will now evaluate whether to update existing salmonella regulations.
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Due to reduced capacity within the FDA’s food safety and nutrition division, a quality control program for dairy product testing has been suspended. This suspension follows the termination of 20,000 Department of Health and Human Services employees and impacts multiple food safety programs, including bird flu and pathogen testing. The suspension affects the proficiency testing program for Grade “A” milk and related products, highlighting a significant setback for food safety oversight. This reduction in capacity comes despite a long history of FDA efforts to ensure the safety of the nation’s milk supply.
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An E. coli outbreak in November 2024, affecting 89 individuals across 15 states, resulted in one death and numerous hospitalizations, including a child who suffered near-fatal kidney failure. The FDA closed its investigation without publicly naming the responsible companies, citing a lack of available contaminated lettuce and therefore no actionable advice for consumers. This decision, however, has drawn criticism from food safety advocates and victims who believe the public has a right to know which companies were involved, to make informed choices and prevent future incidents. The FDA maintains that its response aligned with existing policy, prioritizing actionable consumer advice.
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The USDA plans to close its D.C. headquarters, resulting in thousands of layoffs and the relocation of remaining staff to three yet-to-be-determined national hubs. This restructuring also targets numerous field office leases. The stated rationale is to better serve farmers and ranchers, although critics argue that centralization near other agencies would be more effective. Concerns are rising among farmers, particularly given the current planting season and previous, albeit temporarily reversed, job cuts.
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President Trump imposed a 10% reciprocal tariff on Australian beef, citing Australia’s ban on US beef since a 2003 mad cow disease outbreak. Despite the US being Australia’s largest red meat market, importing nearly 400,000 tonnes of Australian beef in 2024, Australian officials firmly rejected compromising biosecurity standards. While some Australian farmers expressed concern, the tariff was deemed manageable, particularly given the current exchange rate. The situation may also prompt renewed trade negotiations with the European Union.
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Increased meat processing line speeds, recently made permanent by the USDA, are raising concerns among Minnesota plant workers regarding worker safety and food contamination. Union representatives highlight the inability to adequately inspect meat at faster speeds, increasing the risk of fecal matter and infection contaminating products. Workers report increased injury risk due to the accelerated pace, contrasting with industry leaders who view the speed increases as crucial for maintaining production capacity. The USDA’s decision also eliminates the requirement for plants to submit worker safety data, despite still mandating injury reporting to OSHA.
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MadeGood voluntarily recalled over two million granola bars in December due to potential metal contamination, a Class II recall as classified by the FDA on February 11th. The recall encompasses various flavors sold at major retailers including Target and Amazon. Consumers are advised to return affected bars for a full refund; retailers will then dispose of the product. MadeGood corrected the manufacturing issue and implemented preventative measures, although no injuries have been reported.
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The H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was detected in a commercial poultry flock in Elbert County, Georgia, marking the first such case in a commercial operation during the current outbreak. This is the fifth detection in Georgia since 2022, prompting a suspension of all in-state poultry events. The discovery follows a previous human death from H5N1 in Louisiana, highlighting the virus’s ongoing threat. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the USDA are working to contain the spread and minimize disruption to the poultry industry.
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John Q. Hosedrinker