The spotlight on food safety issues is casting a long shadow across America, highlighting the expertise of attorney Bill Marler. As the country grapples with increasing foodborne illnesses, Marler’s workload is expanding, signaling deeper issues within the food safety system.
Marler, renowned for his track record in defending victims of foodborne illness, is experiencing a surge in cases. This has prompted him to increase his team for the first time in years. “We just have too much shit to do,” he stated, reflecting the alarming rise in food safety concerns.
Recent months have seen the U.S. confronted with a significant Cyclospora outbreak, linked to iceberg lettuce, resulting in 10,930 illnesses, 454 hospitalizations, and two deaths. Additionally, issues like Salmonella in jalapeños, eggs, and E. coli in frozen blueberries have surfaced, alongside recalls of various contaminated food products.
The FDA’s 2026 public health advisories have covered a wide range of products, from cheese to infant formula. “As a consumer, you’re looking at this like, well, what the hell’s safe to eat?” Marler remarked, encapsulating public concern.
Recall Counts: A Misleading Indicator?
According to Craig Hedberg, professor and epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, the apparent surge in recalls might be misleading. “Certainly the magnitude of the cyclospora outbreak is unprecedented, but in terms of all of the things that are going on with food, it’s not all that unusual,” Hedberg explained. He noted that summer is typically a high season for such outbreaks, and the cyclospora incident stands out as exceptionally large.
Jennifer McEntire, founder of Food Safety Strategy, pointed out that recalls often stem from a single contaminated ingredient affecting multiple products, inflating recall numbers. For instance, California Dairies’ recall of powdered milk due to potential Salmonella contamination led to widespread product withdrawals.
Enhanced Detection Capabilities
Advancements in technology have improved the detection of food safety issues. “We clearly have better tools and are using them more effectively to identify outbreaks,” Hedberg noted. Whole-genome sequencing has become a crucial tool in identifying genetic fingerprints of pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, enhancing outbreak surveillance.
The Changing Food System
Today’s food system, designed for year-round availability and extensive distribution networks, can magnify the impact of any contamination. The 2006 E. coli outbreak in spinach, which Marler likened to the “9/11” for the leafy-greens industry, exemplifies how a single farm incident can have nationwide repercussions.
Weakening Safety Nets
Recent cuts to public health infrastructure have raised concerns. The Trump administration’s DOGE cuts have been notably impactful, reducing resources across federal health agencies. “Our public health systems have been chronically underfunded for a long time, and we’re seeing that worsen,” said Firestone, an epidemiologist.
Though FDA investigators have been critical to outbreak investigations, the lack of resources has strained the system. Historical cuts, such as the end of the USDA’s Microbiological Data Program in 2012, have also left gaps in proactive surveillance efforts.
Is It Time to Worry?
Despite the challenges, experts like Hedberg advise against altering dietary habits drastically. “Most of the food moving through the system is free of contamination,” he assured. The Cyclospora outbreak stands out, but other issues are recurring patterns in food safety.
