The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently announced a significant reduction in its federal-state surveillance program dedicated to monitoring foodborne pathogens. As of July 1, the CDC's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) has adjusted its focus, now requiring surveillance for only two pathogens: Salmonella and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC). This change comes in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture, and ten state health departments that track infections commonly transmitted through food.
Under the new guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), reporting of illnesses caused by other foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia is now optional. This decision has raised concerns about the potential impact on public health. The story was first highlighted by NBC News, which reported that a reduction in federal funding for FoodNet was a driving factor behind this change.
The FoodNet program involves states including Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, and selected counties in California and New York. A spokesperson from the Minnesota Department of Health confirmed that all eight pathogens remain covered by the state's infectious disease reporting rule, ensuring that healthcare providers are still mandated to report cases. Similarly, the Maryland Health Department stated it would continue tracking all eight pathogens despite the FoodNet changes. However, officials in Colorado indicated that they might have to limit their surveillance activities due to the reduced federal oversight.
In an email response to queries from CIDRAP News, an HHS spokesperson highlighted that the narrowing of FoodNet's reporting focus to Salmonella and STEC is due to their status as leading contributors to foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. The official also pointed out that the CDC maintains separate surveillance systems for tracking infections from the other pathogens, allowing FoodNet staff to prioritize core activities.
Established in 1995 after the severe E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with Jack-in-the-Box hamburgers, FoodNet was designed to conduct active population-based surveillance for foodborne pathogens. According to Craig Hedberg, PhD, a professor at the University of Minnesota and co-director of the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, FoodNet aimed to ensure comprehensive reporting of foodborne illnesses by auditing clinical laboratories serving catchment areas. Initially focused on seven pathogens, Cyclospora was added in 1997, reflecting the program's commitment to tracking food-related illnesses.
Food poisoning remains a prevalent health issue, with the CDC estimating that approximately 48 million Americans fall ill from foodborne diseases each year. While many recover without medical intervention, around 128,000 individuals are hospitalized, and 3,000 succumb to these illnesses annually. Although Salmonella and STEC are recognized as leading causes of foodborne sickness, other pathogens like Campylobacter and Listeria monocytogenes also pose significant risks, with 1.5 million cases of Campylobacter reported each year, and Listeria being the third leading cause of death related to foodborne illnesses.
The reduction in FoodNet funding is alarming to public health experts, as it sends a troubling message regarding the importance of foodborne disease surveillance. Gail Hansen, DVM, MPH, a public health consultant, expressed her concern that the changes could hinder timely detection and notification of foodborne disease outbreaks, emphasizing that the collaborative nature of FoodNet was crucial for rapid communication across states. She warned that without this coordinated effort, public health responses could revert to less efficient systems.
While other CDC programs such as PulseNet, FoodCORE, and the Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence focus on foodborne outbreak detection, experts like Hedberg caution that any further loss of funding could severely impair the capacity to investigate outbreaks effectively. He reiterated that the foundation of the U.S. food safety system relies on robust surveillance, which necessitates increased investment rather than restrictions.
