FDA foreign food inspections decline amid Cyclospora outbreak

A nationwide Cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce has raised concerns regarding the safety of imported food and a decline in international oversight by U.S. regulators.

Agency records indicate that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections of foreign food sites, including a Mexican farm connected to the current outbreak, have decreased by nearly 35% since 2019. This decline follows a wave of retirements and departures among inspectors triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Former senior FDA officials note that the agency has historically struggled to meet congressionally mandated inspection targets.

Concerns have been raised regarding proposed resource-stretching measures, such as a pilot program for one-day inspections. Critics argue these abbreviated visits are not equivalent to traditional inspections, which can last a week or more to identify serious issues. FDA officials maintain that inspections are only one component of food safety, supplemented by border inspections and importer oversight.