Cyclospora Boosts Fears That Deadlier Foodborne Outbreaks Are Ahead

“We are starting to see the consequences of an underfunded public health system in 2026.”

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Food safety leaders express concern that federal funding cuts hinder the detection and management of foodborne illnesses like cyclospora.
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The Trump administration's cuts to public health funding have affected the FoodNet program, which tracks several dangerous pathogens.
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States no longer have to report cases of listeria and campylobacter, which complicates outbreak identification and response.
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Food safety inspections by the FDA have significantly decreased, with the agency failing to meet mandated inspection targets since 2018.
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Michigan has reported over 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis, highlighting the impact of an underfunded public health system.

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