Why Food Recalls Are Actually a Sign of a Stronger Food Safety System

Over the last few months, Trader Joe’s has pulled thousands of cases of focaccia bread and frozen fried rice from its shelves due to potential contamination with metal or glass fragments, respectively. While these recalls may raise concerns about other popular Trader Joe’s products like cookie butter and Everything But the Bagel crackers, they are not isolated incidents.

Monti Carlo, a chef who analyzes food recalls on her Substack, told me in November that recalls had become so frequent during the fall that it was difficult to keep track of them. She cited a listeria outbreak in prepared pasta meals, an infant botulism outbreak in ByHeart whole nutrition infant formula, and a recall of certain corn dogs and sausage-on-a-stick products for potential wood fragments in the batter. “You have to ask yourself, ‘What is going on?’” Carlo said.

Why Are Food Recalls Increasing?

According to experts, the answer is complex. Over the past year, the food safety system has faced significant disruptions. Last fall, a 43-day government shutdown led to the furlough of over 30,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This shutdown stalled public health communications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and delayed inspections of food facilities.

Additionally, the Trump administration laid off 3,859 FDA employees and 2,499 CDC employees by the end of 2025 as part of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s restructuring of the HHS under the DOGE effort to cut costs. While these layoffs may not directly eliminate foodborne illnesses, they have severely limited the government’s ability to detect and respond to them.

The shutdown and layoffs have created fractures in an already fragile food safety system. A March 2025 Consumer Reports article quoted food safety experts who agreed that “the food program’s budget was already inadequate to carry out the amount of oversight required even before the new administration took over.”

How the Food Safety System Works

The U.S. food safety system is divided between two primary agencies: the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which regulates meat and poultry, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees all other food products. While USDA facilities are subject to continuous inspection, FDA-regulated facilities may only be inspected once a year. This leaves much of the daily oversight to food manufacturers themselves.

State and local health agencies often serve as the first line of defense, identifying cases of foodborne illness and determining their causes. In cases where illnesses are linked across multiple states, the CDC steps in to coordinate investigations and contact the relevant agencies. This system, while effective in many cases, is highly dependent on adequate staffing and resources.

When key agencies like the FDA and CDC lose thousands of employees, the system’s ability to detect and respond to food safety threats is compromised. The result? More recalls—and greater public awareness of food safety issues.

Are Food Recalls a Good Thing?

While food recalls can be unsettling for consumers, they are ultimately a sign that the food safety system is functioning as intended. Recalls are triggered when a potential hazard is identified, allowing contaminated products to be removed from shelves before causing harm. Without recalls, foodborne illnesses could go undetected, leading to far more serious public health consequences.

However, the recent surge in recalls also highlights systemic weaknesses. The combination of government shutdowns, layoffs, and underfunded agencies has created a perfect storm for food safety challenges. Experts warn that without adequate resources and staffing, the system’s ability to protect consumers will continue to deteriorate.

For now, consumers can stay informed by monitoring recall notices from the FDA and USDA, and by reporting any suspected foodborne illnesses to their local health departments. While the current state of food safety may feel uncertain, recalls remain a critical tool for keeping the public safe.