Have food recalls grown under RFK? What the data shows.

Key Points:

• Despite high-profile outbreaks linked to iceberg lettuce, jalapeños, alfalfa sprouts, eggs, and frozen berries, the total number of FDA-classified food recalls in 2025 is below the historical average, running about 15% lower than the previous five-year period.
• The largest cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history has sickened over 17,000 people across 48 states, highlighting that fewer recalls do not necessarily indicate a safer food supply, especially amid reduced public health staffing and surveillance cuts.
• Most food recalls (around 99%) are voluntarily initiated by companies, with the FDA taking an average of 38 days to classify recalls during the current Trump administration, and nearly half of recalls since 2012 categorized as the most serious Class I recalls.
• Experts warn that recall numbers fluctuate yearly due to varying surveillance efforts and outbreak occurrences, emphasizing that the public health impact depends more on the severity and scale of illnesses rather than recall frequency.
• Legal professionals report a significant rise in inquiries from individuals affected by foodborne illnesses this summer, reflecting growing public concern over food safety despite the overall decline in recall numbers.