Rising Grocery Prices and Food Safety Concerns in the U.S.

<p>Many Americans report spending significantly on groceries, only to face recall notices that require them to discard purchased food. </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Grocery prices are influenced by complex trade and energy costs, while the safety measures intended to protect consumers are weakening, leading to concerns about both affordability and safety.</p><hr /><ul><li>The average American household spends over $10,000 on groceries annually, with two-thirds of Americans believing their grocery expenses are excessive.</li><li>Prices have risen by more than 18% since 2022, although some food items have experienced greater or lesser increases.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>Lauren Borsheim, a food policy analyst at Food & Water Watch, stated, "It can be really, really scary out there."</p><ul><li>Borsheim added, "The Trump administration since 2025 has really just dismantled many of the fundamental protections we need to keep our food supply safe."</li><li>She expressed concerns that people are worried about the effectiveness of U.S. food regulation, stating, "It's definitely a concern out there that as people are spending more money on their food, they are also fearful that that same food is going to cause them to get sick."</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers: </strong>According to FDA data, recalls are at normal levels this fiscal year.</p><ul><li>In 2026, 5,504 products have been recalled, a slight increase from 5,461 recalls last year, but a decrease from 6,524 recalls in 2024.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>The FDA has initiated a record 19 simultaneous outbreak investigations, involving various products from infant formula to jalapeños.</p><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Corporate consolidation can exacerbate issues, as seen in the Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce, which turned a single supplier's error into a multi-state concern.</p><ul><li>Christopher Barrett, an economist at Cornell University, remarked, "The U.S. food safety system has gotten hit so hard over the last year and a half."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Food safety advocates are worried about reduced federal oversight following staffing cuts in the CDC, FDA, and USDA during the Trump administration.</p><ul><li>These cuts have led to fewer inspections, with Barrett stating that assuming these cuts won't impact food safety is "demonstrably false."</li><li>He noted, "When you cut corners, and you're not seeing the inspectors show up very often, then more stuff gets out the door. You get more episodes of foodborne illness. You have expensive recalls. That just adds to companies' costs, which gets turned into higher prices for us, and it's a vicious cycle."</li><li>The USDA and the FDA did not respond to requests for comment.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>High-profile recalls are occurring alongside ongoing grocery inflation, but the two are not directly linked, according to former USDA Chief Economist Joseph Glauber.</p><ul><li>Glauber explained that factors such as the war in Iran are driving up energy prices, while trade policies and specific weather events are affecting individual food categories.</li><li>He noted that beef prices have increased due to low U.S. cattle numbers and restrictions on Mexican cattle, while tariffs have impacted Mexican tomatoes and weather has affected citrus fruit prices.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>Inflation makes groceries difficult to afford, while cuts to federal oversight raise trust issues regarding food safety.</p><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/30/grocery-inflation-prices-war-diesel" target="_blank">America's next grocery shock is brewing</a></p>