Critical Issues in Food Safety Surveillance
Is there an issue with Food Safety Surveillance?
On July 1, 2025, the CDC scaled back FoodNet—the nation’s only active surveillance system for foodborne illness—from monitoring eight pathogens to just two (Salmonella and STEC E. coli). This follows broader HHS restructuring that reduced staff by 20,000 employees.
Key concerns arising from these changes include:
· Loss of pathogen coverage: Six pathogens are no longer actively monitored, including Campylobacter and Listeria—two of the top five contributors to foodborne illness deaths annually.
· Shift from active to passive surveillance: Remaining national systems like NNDSS rely on voluntary reporting, which typically results in delayed detection and underreporting of cases.
· Uncertain state capacity: While some states (e.g., Maryland) plan to maintain full surveillance, others (e.g., Colorado) may lack resources to continue active monitoring independently.
· Impact on food policy development: FoodNet data has informed evidence-based policy on issues ranging from demographic disparities in illness rates to laboratory testing standards.
Source: Shiang, E. (2025). “Watch Out! Funding Cuts, Food Safety Surveillance, and Federalism.” Petrie-Flom Center, Harvard Law School
Key concerns arising from these changes include:
· Loss of pathogen coverage: Six pathogens are no longer actively monitored, including Campylobacter and Listeria—two of the top five contributors to foodborne illness deaths annually.
· Shift from active to passive surveillance: Remaining national systems like NNDSS rely on voluntary reporting, which typically results in delayed detection and underreporting of cases.
· Uncertain state capacity: While some states (e.g., Maryland) plan to maintain full surveillance, others (e.g., Colorado) may lack resources to continue active monitoring independently.
· Impact on food policy development: FoodNet data has informed evidence-based policy on issues ranging from demographic disparities in illness rates to laboratory testing standards.
Source: Shiang, E. (2025). “Watch Out! Funding Cuts, Food Safety Surveillance, and Federalism.” Petrie-Flom Center, Harvard Law School