Rising Foodborne Illnesses: A Catalyst for Change in American Health Policy

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Analyzing How Escalating Foodborne Outbreaks Fuel Robert F. Kennedy’s Campaign Against Big Food

With foodborne outbreaks on the rise, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s commitment to “Make America Healthy Again” gains momentum. His focus on addressing chronic diseases linked to poor dietary choices aligns with alarming data from the CDC and FDA, which indicate a dramatic increase in foodborne outbreaks over recent years. By targeting the processed food industry and advocating for stricter regulations, Kennedy seeks to transform public health policy in response to these growing concerns.

These are several foodborne illness outbreaks that occurred between 2020 and 2025, including Listeria, Salmonella, Bird Flu and E. coli. Here are some notable outbreaks in chronological order based on the FDA and CDC.

2020:

E. coli in leafy greens and unknown food sources
Salmonella in wood ear mushrooms and peaches
Cyclospora in bagged salad
Listeria in enoki mushrooms

2021:

Salmonella Typhimurium linked to salad greens
Salmonella outbreak was reported across 14 states in October 2021, with 102 people infected and 19 hospitalized.
Cyclospora outbreak with 130 cases (source not identified)
E. coli O121 associated with cake mix
Salmonella Weltevreden in shrimp
Three brands of onions were recalled in October 2021 after a salmonella outbreak in 37 states. 652 people were infected and 129 were hospitalized
Salmonella outbreak related to cashew brie
E. coli O145:H28 with 16 cases (source not identified)

2022:

Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to leafy greens
Hepatitis A virus outbreak associated with frozen strawberries
Listeria in ice cream, soft cheeses, and various fruits
February 8: The first confirmed case of HPAI H5N1 in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois County, Indiana.
March 25: The first cases of H5N1 were confirmed in Minnesota.
Salmonella Hartford outbreak with 54 cases (source not identified)
Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to raw flour
The CDC investigated 149 possible multistate outbreaks, of which 79 were confirmed as outbreaks
A significant outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes was linked to ice cream supplied by Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, Florida. The CDC reported a total of 28 illnesses across 11 states associated with this outbreak, which was investigated throughout the year and declared over in November 2022.

Throughout 2022, HPAI was detected in multiple states, affecting both wild birds and domestic poultry.

2023:

E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to iceberg and romaine lettuce blend, affecting 75 people across 12 states
The H5N1 outbreak continued with widespread detections in wild birds and poultry across the U.S., with significant impacts on commercial poultry operations.
E. coli in flour, falafel, and leafy greens
Listeria Outbreak – Three people died and six were hospitalized after drinking milkshakes laced with listeria bacteria from a Frugals burger restaurant in Washington state between February and July
Listeria outbreak was reported in August 2023, linked to products from The Ice Cream House in Brooklyn, New York. This outbreak involved two reported illnesses and led to recalls of various ice cream products.
By late 2023, there were reports of H5N1 infections in mammals, including cases in seals and otters.

The CDC reported ”increased” incidence of Campylobacter, Cyclospora, STEC, Vibrio, and Yersinia infections in 2023 compared to 2016-2018

2024:

Listeria outbreak linked to ready to eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food Inc.
An ongoing listeriosis outbreak began in May 2024, and has been traced to liverwurst produced at the Jarratt, VA Boar’s Head deli meat facility. 7 million pounds of deli meat were recalled in July in conjunction with the 2024 United States listeriosis outbreak.
Salmonella outbreak associated with cucumbers from Florida growers
E. coli outbreaks in carrots and onions
March: H5N1 was confirmed to have infected dairy cows for the first time in the U.S., with cases reported in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, South Dakota, Idaho, North Carolina, and Ohio.
April 2: A dairy worker in Texas became infected with H5N1, marking the first reported cow-to-human transmission.
May: Additional human cases were reported among dairy workers who had contact with infected cattle.
E. coli outbreak was linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in 10 U.S. states (Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma). As of October 22, there have been 49 cases, 10 hospitalizations, and 1 death.

These outbreaks have indeed brought attention to food safety issues in the industry, leading to recalls, investigations and public health advisories.

Final Thoughts:
As the CDC and FDA states- As we approach 2025, the data from the CDC and FDA reveals a troubling increase in foodborne illness outbreaks. All of a sudden, raising critical questions about public health and safety. According to CDC estimates, approximately 48 million Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, leading to 128,000 hospitalizations and around 3,000 deaths. With these raising alarming statistics in mind, one must wonder what the future holds for foodborne outbreaks. Will we see a decline after the new administration in 2025 or will it continue to escalate?