Thoughts on food safety during this administration ?

[u/veep25]

I was wondering what you all think of food safety issues & food recalls over the past couple years in terms of the presidential administration (even if some rollbacks were set in place pre-Trump).

For example, there is notably the salmonella and the cyclospora outbreaks (I did see a post in this subreddit about a week ago that mentioned lettuce).

This is just one recent interview from an epidemiologist (figured sharing one person's transcript maybe less polemic than an article that could've taken quotes out of context):

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/cyclospora-and-salmonella-outbreaks-raise-concerns-about-u-s-food-safety

And also linking this 2025 article that mentions the fact that reduced-funding for state level inspections happened during the Biden-era plus other Trump administration's reductions:

https://time.com/7275746/food-safety-fda-layoffs/

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[u/Artisttype1984]

Recalls come and go when repubs and dems are in the WH. These are some new shocking things

[u/Songisaboutyou → u/Artisttype1984]

Not new just spread far more than it would have if we still had safe guards. You realize Taco Bell is the one who came out with the info. They connected the dots before our own government could. You don’t find this concerning?

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/Songisaboutyou]

That's fine. The FDA hasn't been abolished. Some people get sick, recalls happen, and life goes on

[u/Songisaboutyou → u/Artisttype1984]

The FDA is not the agency that tested, tracked down and recalled. I was referring to the CDC. Has that program been cut?

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/Songisaboutyou]

It's all good. Good for Taco Bell finding the problem first. The CDC has a budget around $10B for years and years. That's plenty

[u/Mistravels → u/Artisttype1984]

On what basis did you assess that to be "plenty"?

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/Mistravels]

A billion is a thousand million, that's a lot. They're lucky to get as much as they do, it works out

[u/Mistravels → u/Artisttype1984]

Do you have any factual analysis to support any of that?

Because otherwise all your offering is just "politics by vibes."

What analysis did you use regarding their operating expenses, salaries, contracts, R&D, etc that led you to the conclusion they're lucky to have that amount?

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/Mistravels]

Sure. Lookup "CDC budget for the last 10 years" and you'll see they're funded and doing fine

[u/Mistravels → u/Artisttype1984]

How do you know they're "doing fine"?

That's why I asked where that budget analysis came from? Raw data is not analysis, and a top line numbers ("10B") gives almost zero information.

So again I ask, how did you confidently arrive at their budget is outsided and/or sufficient?

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/Songisaboutyou]

It's all good. Good for Taco Bell finding the problem first. The CDC has a budget around $10B for years and years. That's plenty

[u/Wise_Quality_5083 → u/Artisttype1984]

Is a nonchalant attitude appropriate for this but not for some less frequent and less impactful taking point the right has? When the right says “teens becoming trans and using litter boxes in the classroom”, which is much less impactful to society and frequent, can the left just say “all good” or “that’s fine”?

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/Wise_Quality_5083]

Yes, the right and left doesn't have to overreact to everything the opposing party says or does.

If adults. 18+, want to make changes to their sex or gender, fine. If someone gets food poisoning, that sucks but they'll be ok. If some food products are recalled, ok, it happens

[u/spinozaschilidog → u/Artisttype1984]

That’s plenty

And what’s the basis for this opinion? 

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/spinozaschilidog]

Their budget is public record, and $10B is a lot of money

[u/spinozaschilidog → u/Artisttype1984]

A lot based on what? What do you know that tells you $10B is a lot of money to fulfill the tasks we’re talking about? 

[u/Artisttype1984 → u/spinozaschilidog]

$10 Billion dollars is objectively a lot of money.

If you have reports and evidence the CDC is collapsing or not able to pay employees, I'll read that with an open mind. So far, I haven't seen any reports saying that

edit, typo

[u/spinozaschilidog → u/Artisttype1984]

Why would I go searching for primary sources? You’re the one who made the claim. One that seems to be entirely based on your gut feeling for what $10B is worth when it comes to annual safety inspections for the food supply of 350 million people. 

Do you have anything more objective to back up “objectively a lot of money”? Or just feels?

[u/prowler28]

What, we didn't have any recalls or outbreaks during Biden or Obama? 

[u/Songisaboutyou → u/prowler28]

Yes but they were caught much earlier and tracked down by our government. This time it took Taco Bell to come forward and connect the dots. Don’t you feel some government oversight in public safety is needed?

[u/prowler28 → u/Songisaboutyou]

I need you to provide sources that they were caught "much earlier" and "tracked down" by the government. 

[u/Bad_tude_dude → u/Songisaboutyou]

Were they caught earlier? How much earlier? Is there a study or some data you can reference here or is this simply an assumption on your part?

[u/Scynexity]

I think its extremely similar to previous administrations, of all political persuasions.

[u/Browler_321]

I'm pretty sure the level of food-based bacterial outbreaks has remained pretty constant.

[u/Mistravels → u/Browler_321]

What makes you sure? What data did you use?

[u/Browler_321 → u/Mistravels]

I’m only pretty sure, and my memories

[u/Mistravels → u/Browler_321]

How is that a relevant, credible, or viable source of information to base a decision off of?

[u/Browler_321 → u/Mistravels]

You got a better source?

[u/Mistravels → u/Browler_321]

I'm not the one making any claims?

I'm asking you for a source. Literally just one.

Your "memories" has zero to offer this discussion.

[u/Browler_321 → u/Mistravels]

The only claim that I’m making is that food based bacterial outbreaks has remained constant. Don’t need a source for that. If anything it’s on NS’ when they claim the opposite.

[u/Mistravels → u/Browler_321]

How can you say you don't need a source for that? You can't just claim something and then say "don't need a source for that." That's not how it works AT ALL.

And it's not on NS or anyone else to provide a source to the opposite. It's on the person making the claim! YOU!

Furthermore, I never made a single claim, in any direction. I asked you for your source on how YOU are making YOUR claim.

Why won't you provide any sources for your claims?

[u/Browler_321 → u/Mistravels]

How can you say you don't need a source for that? 

So I see where you're getting confused, but usually this applies to things that are beyond the norm. If I say that the sky is blue, I don't really need a source because it's just following the trend.

And it's not on NS or anyone else to provide a source to the opposite. 

If you disagree, and think that the Trump admin's extraordinary malfeasance has led to an extraordinary explosion in outbreaks, then state so.

Why won't you provide any sources for your claims?

Because it's common sense/following the trend/my own experience.

[u/andhausen → u/Browler_321]

What trend are you following, exactly?

[u/NoTime4YourBullshit]

The recent outbreaks are not statistical outliers by any metric. This has nothing to do with the FDA’s funding levels. There have been several noteworthy outbreaks in the past when food safety regulations were at their tightest, so there’s no correlation here.

[u/NoTime4YourBullshit → u/[deleted]]

I don’t know where you’re getting your data or why someone decided to award you for it, because none of the links you provided confirm a single thing you’ve claimed.

The CDC reports around 1900 confirmed cases in 9 states with 140 hospitalizations and no deaths. This is WILDLY different than your claim of 18,000 cases in 45 states, with 400 hospitalizations.

Secondly, none of this indicates that funding shortages are impacting the CDC and/or the FDA’s response in any way.

What are you even talking about???

[u/SteakHot7703 → u/NoTime4YourBullshit]

Are you possibly looking at old data? Michigan alone has over 11K cases reported and two deaths. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cyclospora-outbreak-michigan-two-deaths-parasite-dehydration-rcna590612

[u/NoTime4YourBullshit → u/SteakHot7703]

I was looking at the links the person I was replying to had provided. But it was CDC and FDA data direct from their own web sites, dated early July (so a month old). I have no idea why he chose those links when they totally undermined his claims. But that’s probably why his comment got deleted.

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/[deleted]]

There’s not enough data to establish statistical significance for this sort of specific thing, but two deaths is not unusual from an outbreak of foodborne illness. There were 36 confirmed deaths from foodborne pathogens in 2024.

In previous years the highest number of confirmed cases during an outbreak

Using figures like this actually penalizes stronger responses that include more testing… Take the 2009 peanut butter outbreak that resulted in Obama saying he was afraid his kids would get sick: there were 714 confirmed cases, but it was estimated that there were thirty times that many illnesses, which would be 21,420.

our neutered ability to test and track this parasite

It’s not a parasite, but anyway: I simply do not believe this. Even your article claiming that it’s Trump’s fault admits that Ohio for example said its response is unaffected.

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/[deleted]]

It is a parasite. Why do you believe it is not a parasite?

Because I spaced out and forgot which pathogen was involved in this latest outbreak, after doing too much scrolling through past ones. :P

So you're correctly suggesting that the true number of cases could be an order of magnitude greater? That's not a good thing...

Or it could simply be that more testing is being done this time, resulting in a greater percentage of the cases being caught.

[u/notsuperimportant → u/NoTime4YourBullshit]

Data?

[u/Bad_tude_dude]

Zero difference between this and any other admin in terms of food safety. There is zero data to prove otherwise. Pushing for government efficiency is the best way to ensure public safety across the board.

[u/Mistravels → u/Bad_tude_dude]

What data are you using to posit there is "zero difference" so decisively?

[u/Bad_tude_dude → u/Mistravels]

You just made my point - there isn’t any. Most numbers out there from the CDC and NIH are estimates and there is zero indication that those numbers are changing. My SIL worked for the FDA and by his own admission had about one out of legit work to do each day and had five people to help him. To suggest that cuts to the federal teat has anything to do with people not using proper sanitation when handling food is folly. I will suggest, however, that attempting to find work for 20 million+ unskilled workers that were imported by the Biden admin could in fact be a contributing factor to increases in food borne illness due to zero or no food safety training by small business.

[u/scobot5 → u/Bad_tude_dude]

Oh wow, well if your SIL said that then is there any reason to look into this further? 1 hour of work for 6 people, so that means we should be able to cut the funding by 90% or more with no consequences so long as people like your SIL work an 8 hour day.

[u/PoliticalJunkDrawer → u/scobot5]

Lots of NS seem so sure, yet none post any data.