When was the last time you ate a salad without second guessing the choice? How about making a run for the border and/or asking for jalapenos at Chipotle? Turns out, the run-up to the midterm elections has turned into a food safety debate following a series of foodborne outbreaks and recalls.
While many are focused on the ever-rising costs of housing expenses and fuel, others of us are deeply concerned about the safety of the U.S. food supply.
And it's becoming ... you'll never guess! A partisan issue.
Democrats are using the issue to criticize Republicans, saying the Trump administration has been chaotic and slow in addressing mass recalls. Case in point: CBS News reported the cyclospora outbreak tied to lettuce led to almost 20,000 confirmed cases of illness from May through August -- the largest recorded outbreak of all time tied to that parasite. The outbreak affected people in 21 states.
"One of the reasons food safety is in the news this year, and people have been rightfully concerned, is the combination of high-profile restaurant names and the absolute colossal number of illnesses," said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "It's thousands of people. It makes it more real."
Politicians have piled on. "Trump is dismantling our government — and it's harming people," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) posted Sept. 2 on the social platform X, adding: "Slashed food safety agencies → cyclospora outbreak." Warren also wrote a public letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr demanding answers for what she termed the administration's "failed response."
On the other hand, Trump administration officials accuse Democrats of scaremongering for political gain.
The FDA put a message on X calling reports of out-of-control food recalls 'fake news.'
Don't believe the fake news. Our data tells the true story of public health protection. 📊
— U.S. FDA (@FDA) August 21, 2026
FDA recalls FY2026 (1,836) remain among the lowest levels recorded in over a decade.
When safety issues arise, FDA oversight ensures swift action. Always check official sources for… pic.twitter.com/5ScSDOG0kI
GOP-aligned experts point out the fact that while parasites made headlines, the actual number of outbreaks so far this year stands about 200, which is on par with past years.
Still, a July survey by Quinnipiac University found that 94% of U.S. adults were concerned about the frequency of food recalls. And the share of consumers who 'strongly agree' the U.S. food system produces goods safe to eat declined from 40% in August 2025 to 30% in November 2025, based on survey data released in September by the University of Illinois and Purdue University.
Despite claims of declining food recalls by the FDA, some experts question the data and express concerns about weakening food safety protections under the Trump administration.
Despite the number of recalls remaining steady, public confidence in government oversight of food safety has declined, with Democrats expressing more doubt than Republicans, new polls show.
The perception of a riskier food supply has fueled political discord, with experts questioning the accuracy of data on food safety recalls provided by the administration.Susan Mayne, who was director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition from 2015 to 2023, told CBS the data is shaded by including items like medical devices, which are obviously not related to food.
"This HHS assertion appears to be based on incorrect data," Mayne said on LinkedIn, a job-oriented social networking site.
