Why Food Keeps Making Everybody Sick This Summer

The FDA has recorded over 12,800 foodborne illnesses in 2026, far exceeding the 895 cases reported the previous year, with major outbreaks including cyclospora from Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, salmonella in jalapeños (431 illnesses, 57 hospitalizations), and a dual E. coli-salmonella sprout outbreak affecting 55 people. Experts attribute the surge to chronic underfunding, gaps in federal food policy, and a roughly 25% reduction in CDC staff that weakened outbreak response capacity.