Changes to the CDC Foodborne Illness Surveillance Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently restructured its flagship foodborne illness surveillance system. A dramatic reduction in mandatory reporting now focuses on only two pathogens, Salmonella and Shiga toxin producing E. coli, down from eight. Health experts warn this decision may weaken outbreak detection and public health analysis. Understanding what has changed and how it could impact food safety becomes essential.
What Is FoodNet and Why It Matters
FoodNet, or the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, has operated since 1995. It represents a partnership between the CDC, USDA, FDA, and health departments in ten states. Coverage includes active monitoring of laboratory confirmed cases as well as patient demographics and exposures, capturing data for roughly sixteen percent of the U.S. population. That information informs public health strategies, food safety policies, and helps identify emerging threats.
What Changed in July 2025
As of July 1, the CDC officially reduced required pathogen surveillance by FoodNet. Only infections caused by Salmonella and STEC now require mandatory reporting. Monitoring of Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia became optional. Food safety officials described the shift as a strategy to allow staff to reallocate resources toward core functions.
Other surveillance systems within the CDC still collect data on those other pathogens. Agencies such as the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System and the Listeria Initiative continue monitoring them nationally. Reporting by states remains possible depending on local resources and regulations. Maryland will continue full surveillance. Colorado anticipates cutbacks in certain disease tracking due to budget limitations.
Why the Change Sparks Concern
Limiting FoodNet’s tracking raises serious concerns among public health experts. Campylobacter alone caused nearly 1.9 million cases of foodborne illness in 2019, more than Salmonella and STEC combined. Listeria, while less common, remains one of the deadliest foodborne pathogens. Excluding these diseases from active surveillance could delay outbreak recognition and obstruct the ability to observe emerging trends.
Officials and researchers warn that narrowing surveillance undermines the accuracy of estimates and the timeliness of outbreak response, especially for vulnerable populations. States lacking resources for independent tracking may lose key insight into local disease patterns.
Agency Rationale for the Shift
CDC publicly confirmed that narrowing the focus allows FoodNet staff to prioritize essential surveillance activities while ensuring infrastructure and quality remain stable. Salmonella and STEC are among the top contributors to foodborne illnesses and fatalities, and they align with the Healthy People 2030 goals. CDC emphasized readiness to resume tracking other pathogens if needs evolve.
HHS and CDC framed the change as a response to resource limitations and stagnant funding. The reality of budget constraints has made it difficult to maintain surveillance across the full spectrum of pathogens.
What This Means for Public Health
Loss of surveillance for pathogens such as Campylobacter and Listeria weakens early warning capacity for multistate outbreaks. Reporters and public health experts argue that relying on passive reporting is less effective than active laboratory networks like FoodNet. Without real time data, timely outbreak investigation and public advisories may be delayed.
Missing data also impairs planning, public education, and evaluation of prevention policies. Changes in pathogen trends may remain unnoticed until severe outbreaks occur. Experts believe reduced surveillance could erode public trust in the food safety system over time.
What Consumers Should Know
Consumers should remain vigilant about basic food safety practices. These include cooking foods to proper temperatures, avoiding cross contact, and prioritizing hygiene in the kitchen. Awareness of local recalls and outbreaks provides another layer of protection when surveillance data may lag.
Final Note
FoodNet has served as a cornerstone in U.S. foodborne illness surveillance for three decades. Curbing its required reporting to only two pathogens narrows the lens on food safety risks. This approach may rationalize resource allocation in a constrained environment. That said, public health leaders caution that the change threatens the timeliness and integrity of outbreak detection and trend analysis.
Ensuring safety in the nation’s food supply demands flexible, comprehensive surveillance. Monitoring only Salmonella and STEC leaves significant gaps that experts say could allow preventable outbreaks to go unchecked. Continued investment and a commitment to full spectrum surveillance remain critical to protecting public health.
