Food safety and food-borne illness are not my favorite topics (a little boring). Well, boring no more! Recent changes in the US administration and public health infrastructure make food safety right now something all of us need to be aware of. In 2024, hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food doubled nationwide, with food recalls from Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli surging 41% according to CDC outbreak data(1).

The sobering reality? Traditional food safety oversight systems were struggling to keep pace with evolving contamination risks before the current administration dismantled consumer protections. American families are increasingly vulnerable now. Recent Listeria outbreaks in ready-to-eat foods across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington, coupled with widespread Salmonella contamination in sprouted beans and fresh produce, signal a critical shift in how we must approach food safety.

This evidence-based guide combines current outbreak surveillance data with proven protective strategies that don’t rely solely on regulatory oversight. You’ll discover which foods pose the highest risks right now and learn the multi-layered safety protocols that can protect your family when institutional safeguards fall short.

The Current Food Safety Landscape

While federal agencies have implemented several positive changes—including stricter lead standards for baby foods (now capped at 10 parts per billion for fruits, vegetables, and yogurts) and positive changes to some inspection systems(2)—these improvements haven’t kept pace with escalating contamination events and the removal of oversight of toxic chemicals from food and the environment. 

The spring and summer of 2025 brought a cascade of serious outbreaks. Listeria monocytogenes contaminated ready-to-eat foods distributed across four western states, while Salmonella infections spiked from sprouted beans and cucumbers reaching grocery shelves nationwide. June alone saw multiple food recalls due to bacterial contamination, creating a perfect storm of consumer confusion and supply chain disruption.

What’s particularly concerning is the concentration of risk. While total outbreak numbers may seem manageable, the severity and scope of individual incidents have intensified dramatically. A single contaminated processing facility can now affect products distributed across dozens of states within hours, amplifying the impact of each safety failure.

This reality reflects deeper systemic challenges: aging food processing infrastructure, increasingly complex global supply chains, and regulatory agencies stretched thin across expanding oversight responsibilities. Political pressures and budget constraints have further limited the frequency and depth of facility inspections, creating gaps that dangerous pathogens readily exploit.

The message is clear: while some improvements continue, you can’t rely solely on US government or institutional oversight to protect your family from foodborne illness. Sorry.

High-Risk Foods and Vulnerable Populations

Based on recent outbreak data, certain foods now pose dramatically elevated risks.

  • Ready-to-eat products—including deli meats, pre-made salads, and packaged sandwiches—have emerged as primary contamination vectors, largely because they bypass the kill-step of cooking that eliminates most pathogens.
  • Fresh produce presents another critical risk category. Cucumbers, sprouted beans, and leafy greens have been implicated in multiple recent outbreaks, often contaminated at the growing or processing stage through irrigation water, soil amendments, or cross-contamination during packaging. Unlike processed foods, fresh produce rarely undergoes treatments that eliminate harmful bacteria.
  • Baby foods deserve special attention given the new lead contamination standards. While 10 parts per billion represents progress, parents should prioritize products from manufacturers with robust internal testing programs and consider preparing more baby food at home from whole ingredients.

Vulnerable populations face amplified risks from these contaminated foods.

  • Pregnant women risk devastating consequences from Listeria exposure, which can cause miscarriage or severe newborn infections.
  • Adults over 65 and individuals with compromised immune systems—including those with diabetes, cancer, or autoimmune conditions—are more likely to develop severe complications from any foodborne pathogen.
  • Children under five face particular danger from E. coli infections, which can cause life-threatening kidney failure.

For these high-risk groups, conservative food choices aren’t just recommended—they’re essential for preventing serious illness.

Essential Food Safety Practices

Protecting your family requires implementing multiple defensive layers, starting with these four fundamental principles:

Clean with Purpose

Wash your hands for a full 20 seconds before and after handling any food—this simple step eliminates the majority of harmful bacteria that cause cross-contamination. You can create a bleach sanitizing solution using one tablespoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water for cleaning all food contact surfaces. Replace kitchen sponges weekly and dedicate separate cutting boards exclusively for raw meats versus fresh produce.

Even fruits and vegetables you plan to peel require thorough washing, as knife blades can carry surface contaminants into the flesh. Rinse all produce under running water, scrubbing firm items like cucumbers and melons with a clean brush.

I do a wipe down first thing in the morning (I’m the morning person of our household), and my beloved husband Craig usually does a night-time clean-up. 

Separate Strategically

Raw meats must remain isolated from ready-to-eat foods throughout the entire food handling process (prep, cook, store). Store raw meats on the lowest refrigerator shelf to prevent drips, and use separate utensils for raw and cooked items. Never place cooked food back on surfaces or plates that previously held raw meat without thorough cleaning and sanitization.

Cook to Kill Baddies

Invest in a reliable instant-read thermometer and use it consistently. Poultry must reach 165°F, ground meats 160°F, and whole cuts of beef and pork 145°F. For high-risk individuals, reheat all deli meats and hot dogs until steaming hot before consumption—this simple step eliminates Listeria contamination.

Chill out Consistently

Maintain your refrigerator at 40°F or below and don’t leave perishable foods in the danger zone (40-140°F) for more than two hours—or just one hour when ambient temperature exceeds 90°F. Implement a “first in, first out” rotation system to ensure older products get used before newer ones.

How long does food last in the fridge? I’m a fan of the 3-day rule, especially for protein-containing foods. The surve-safe training for food handling says 7 days. For non-protein containing foods like condiments, jellies, and such, a couple of months. For milk, cheese, and other perishables, use the use-by dates. If in doubt, throw it out.

Before shopping, I check recalls for current alerts (we all have nerdy friends who keep track – well, now you do too!). During the ongoing date labeling standardization period, pay extra attention to expiration dates and when in doubt, choose fresher alternatives. Consider diversifying your shopping across multiple stores and suppliers (and think local – farmer’s markets and local stands) to reduce concentrated exposure from any single contaminated source.

Beyond Government Oversight – Building Your Own Safety Net

Finding Information – in the US

This administration has dismantled much of our public health infrastructure, which has and will negatively impact the safety of the US food supply.  When institutional oversight proves insufficient, independent systems start to pop up – and that’s what’s happening now. Academic institutions like university extension programs provide research-based food safety guidance without commercial bias, and some universities, like Brown, are stepping in to track outbreaks of things like COVID and other potential pandemics. 

Finding Information – International Support

International food safety standards often exceed U.S. requirements and offer additional perspective on best practices. The World Health Organization publishes comprehensive food safety guidelines, and European Food Safety Authority standards frequently prove more stringent than domestic regulations. Products bearing certifications from Global Food Safety Initiative-recognized programs undergo additional third-party verification beyond minimum regulatory requirements.

Think Local

Developing relationships with local food producers creates transparency unavailable in industrial supply chains. Farmers’ markets (look here for farmers’ markets in MA) allow direct conversations about growing and handling practices, while Community Supported Agriculture programs often welcome farm visits. Many small-scale producers maintain testing protocols that exceed those of larger operations.

Even More Local – Your Home

Your home safety strategies can include erring on the side of safe storage times and cooking temperatures. When regulatory guidance seems uncertain, use shorter storage windows and higher cooking temperatures than officially recommended. You might invest in food safety tools like pH test strips for home preservation projects or water testing kits if you rely on well water for food preparation.

Building community information networks amplifies individual efforts. Neighbors sharing experiences about food quality from different retailers can create an early warning system for local problems. Local health departments often investigate outbreaks more thoroughly than federal agencies and may identify risks before they gain national attention.

The win-win 

Finally, reducing your dependence on processed foods decreases your exposure to industrial contamination. Might this be a silver lining? A more whole-foods plant-based diet not only provides you the nutrients you need for your big full life, but also is demonstrably safer from the most virulent food-borne outbreaks.

If you have interest, it is an excellent time to learn preservation techniques like fermentation, dehydration, or proper canning for more control over food safety while getting a bit more self-reliant. Even urban dwellers can grow herbs, sprouts, or microgreens, ensuring at least some food sources remain completely under personal control.

No matter where or how you live, you might learn a little more from our homesteading brothers and sisters. yep, maybe the preppers have a point! I recently wrote a post about homesteading to get you thinking about why and how to develop your healthy bubble of home. 

Food Safety Now

Food safety is a collaboration. It takes all of us, communicating within a system, to minimize outbreaks. Right now, that system is significantly compromised, and a new system isn’t yet available. From the looks of things, it might be a while.  So, it’s an excellent time to eat a little better, get a little stronger physically and mentally, think a little more about food safety, and keep an eye on those you love.

You got this.

Here are a couple of articles that might give you more ideas and inspiration on food-based well being.

Sources

(1) US Public Interest Research Group. NEW REPORT: Hospitalizations, deaths from contaminated food doubled in 2024. Accessed 9/16/25 Online.

(2) Consumer Reports. FDA Proposes New Limits for Lead in Baby Foods. Accessed 9/16/25 Online.