Food recalls in 2026 have surged to prominence with two major Class I warnings from the FDA—the agency’s highest risk designation—issued for eggs and blueberries, underscoring a year marked by simultaneous multistate outbreaks of salmonella, E. coli, and cyclospora. Through mid-August 2026, the FDA and USDA have recorded 162 food recalls, putting the year on pace to approach the 320 recalls reported for all of 2025, according to data from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
Nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services between June 6 and July 3 were recalled in July over salmonella contamination and upgraded to Class I status on August 12. The CDC confirmed that the outbreak had sickened at least 98 people across 17 states, with 26 hospitalizations and no deaths reported. The eggs were distributed to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and were sold under Country Morning, Cal-Maine Sunups, Brookshire’s, Simple Truth, and Kroger brand names.
A separate Class I recall was issued for Publix GreenWise frozen blueberries on August 20 after E. coli O145:H28 contamination was detected. The contaminated berries, originating from Chile and sold at Publix locations across eight states, had sickened 12 people, with four hospitalized, according to the CDC. The FDA defines Class I recalls as situations “in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The two high-profile recalls are part of a broader pattern of simultaneous outbreaks in 2026. A cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms has resulted in more than 9,400 cases, nearly 400 hospitalizations, and two deaths across multiple states. A separate salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, has infected 345 people across 27 states, with 36 hospitalizations. Both outbreaks have prompted recalls of products sold at major retailers including Kroger, Whole Foods, Chipotle, and Qdoba.
Whether the visible surge in recalls reflects worsening food safety or improved detection remains debated among experts. Teresa Murray, Consumer Watchdog Director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, told KCRA that the raw number of recalls “doesn’t tell the full story,” noting that investigators cannot yet determine whether rising recall counts mean “there’s more enforcement, or that there’s more hazardous food.” Richard Besser, former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and now president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, told The Hill that “we have always had a fragmented approach to food safety in America” and that improvements are needed.
The FDA’s surveillance of foodborne illness outbreaks shows a marked uptick during June, July, and August 2026 compared to prior years. As of mid-August, the FDA had initiated 21 foodborne illness outbreak investigations for the entire year, with 18 remaining active—four of which are cyclospora cases. The agency also noted that the formal recall count does not capture every investigation, and that the true scope of food safety issues may be broader than the published figures suggest.
The FDA and HHS have moved to tighten food oversight, while the Trump administration nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the FDA amid these challenges. Consumer behavior has shifted in response: a 2025 survey commissioned by GS1 US found that 60 percent of respondents reported avoiding entire food categories following recalls, and a similar percentage said they remain hesitant to buy recalled brands in the future.
Sources
- Time — egg recall upgraded to Class I, salmonella outbreak details, jalapeño outbreak scope
- CBS News — egg recall Class I designation, blueberry recall details
- al.com — blueberry recall Class I status, E. coli contamination, product details
- KCRA — food recall statistics for 2026, expert commentary from Teresa Murray, FDA outbreak investigation data
- NewsNation — recall statistics comparison 2025-2026, Richard Besser quote, consumer behavior survey results
- FDA — official Class I recall definitions, outbreak investigations, product details
- CDC — salmonella case count and hospitalizations, E. coli blueberry outbreak details, cyclospora outbreak scale
