Federal food safety officials are pointing to fresh evidence that produce and other foods remain a persistent source of foodborne illness, while also highlighting progress in outbreak detection and response.
Two newly released reports — from FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) network and the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — offer a snapshot of where risks are emerging and how regulators are responding.
The FDA’s CORE annual report documents 10 public health advisories issued in 2024, nine tied to multistate foodborne illness outbreaks. Investigations led to recalls, warning letters and other enforcement actions, underscoring the agency’s role not just in responding to outbreaks but in shaping long-term prevention strategies.
Among the most notable cases was a multistate outbreak of an E. coli infection linked to carrots, along with a long-running listeria outbreak tied to queso fresco and cotija cheese. The report also highlighted a series of adverse events connected to infused chocolate products.
FDA officials emphasized that these investigations feed into broader regulatory actions, including inspections and risk assessments aimed at preventing repeat incidents. The CORE network coordinates closely with the CDC and state agencies on outbreak response and food traceability efforts.
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For agriculture, the findings reinforce ongoing scrutiny of fresh produce supply chains, particularly leafy greens and ready-to-eat items that have been repeatedly implicated in outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the food safety analytics annual report provides a longer-term view of foodborne illness sources, analyzing nearly 50,000 illnesses tied to 1,390 outbreaks between 1998 and 2023.
IFSAC researchers estimated the share of illnesses attributable to 17 food categories for key pathogens, which included salmonella, E. coli O157, and listeria. The data is designed to guide policy and industry interventions by identifying which foods are most often linked to specific pathogens.
The report shows that attribution patterns vary significantly by pathogen, complicating efforts to target a single commodity group. Still, produce categories remain a major contributor for several pathogens, reinforcing the need for continued investment in on-farm food safety practices, traceability and postharvest handling.
Together, the reports highlight both progress and persistent challenges. While federal agencies are improving outbreak detection and coordination, the data suggests that preventing contamination — particularly in complex produce supply chains — remains the central challenge for regulators and growers alike.
