FDA Changes Raise Concerns About Food Recalls

As President Donald Trump’s second administration looks to make major cuts to reduce government spending, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could be on the chopping block.

That has some policy experts confused about the FDA’s ability to implement efficient recalls and protect Americans from foodborne illness or public health hazards.

Why It Matters

More Americans became sick from contaminated food last year, with the number of hospitalizations and deaths from foodborne illness doubling compared to 2023.

The number of recalls because of listeria, salmonella or E. coli increased significantly in 2024 and comprised about 40 percent of all recalls for the FDA and USDA combined, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

That means any financial cuts to the FDA could have serious consequences for food and public safety if recalls are delayed or not released.

What To Know

If the FDA sees its funding affected by Trump administration budget cuts, workers might not have the same ability to travel and ensure different locations are following federal guidelines to prevent public safety hazards or foodborne illness.

Food recalls are typically prompted after companies and regulators implement testing and inspections or if customers needed medical care after consuming the same food product. If the FDA has a lower capacity for such inspections, American consumers could be impacted, experts said.

Funding cuts could prevent the FDA from making important recalls like the recent one on Lay’s potato chips for undeclared milk allergens, Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek.

Milk is a top food allergen and was found in bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips with no disclosure on the product label. As a result, the FDA brought the recall to Class I, the highest risk level.

Trump put a freeze on federal health agency communications with the public, which includes the FDA, until February 1.

What People Are Saying

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “As the new administration wrestles with which parts of the budget to cut to lower government spending, the FDA is one of the administrations being targeted for a pullback in expenses. And while many Americans can get behind cutting certain aspects of government spending, the FDA is entrusted with protecting public health. Even cuts to areas such as the administration’s travel budget could prove problematic, as there are situations when officials need to go to different locations to ensure federal guidelines are being followed. Smarter spending is always encouraged, but risking the health and safety of American consumers isn’t worth a few dollars saved.”

Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: “The cuts impact not just the FDA but the government as a whole. Many fail to recognize that regulatory systems exist because capitalism has, at times, fallen short in protecting consumers. When that happens, the government steps in as a safeguard against corporate overreach.”

Teresa Murray, the consumer watchdog director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, told Newsweek: “Most food recalls are driven by three things: testing by companies and regulators, inspections by state and federal regulators and people seeking medical care. Anything that affects the FDA’s ability to do random food testing, conduct site inspections or work on investigations in outbreaks would be concerning.”

What Happens Next

If the FDA sees a major cut to its finances, it likely would not be able to make some important recalls.

“Reducing the agency’s capacity and pushing employees to quit or retire raises serious concerns about public safety,” Thompson said. “The larger implications? More issues will ‘inevitably’ slip through the cracks. The real question is: When problems arise, who will be the scapegoat, and how long will that narrative hold before change is demanded?”