FDA foreign food inspections dropped 35% amid outbreak response concerns

The short version

• FDA inspections of foreign food facilities have fallen nearly 35% since 2019, dropping to 1,140 visits in fiscal year 2025.[Associated Press]
• Following a July 17 recall linked to a cyclospora outbreak, FDA investigators took approximately one month to reach a Mexican lettuce facility.[Associated Press]
• The FDA retracted a flawed border test but maintains the farm is the contamination source, while Mexican officials report finding no positive samples.[Associated Press]
• The agency continues to miss congressionally mandated inspection goals amid chronic staffing vacancies and travel support reductions.[Associated Press]

Key facts

• FDA foreign food site inspections decreased by nearly 35% compared to 2019 levels.[Associated Press]
• Federal inspectors reached Taylor Farms in Guanajuato, Mexico, in mid-August, roughly four weeks after an initial recall on July 17.[Associated Press]
• The FDA retracted a border test reporting cyclospora on Taylor Farms lettuce, though agency officials still maintain the farm is the source of the outbreak.[Associated Press]
• Mexican authorities reported finding no positive samples or warning signs at the inspected farm site.[Associated Press]
• Federal law mandates over 19,000 international food inspections annually, yet agency inspections peaked at 1,700 in 2019 and fell to 1,140 in fiscal year 2025.[Associated Press]
• More than half of the FDA staff members responsible for coordinating inspector travel logistics were eliminated under the Trump administration.[Associated Press]
• Between 10% and 15% of the FDA's food inspection positions have stayed chronically vacant according to the GAO and former agency personnel.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Cyclospora outbreak followed years of declining FDA foreign inspectionsAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press