Federal health officials, in their infinite wisdom, made the decision to discontinue tracking Listeria and five other food-related infections, despite a deadly outbreak that originated in Virginia one year ago.
The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known more commonly as FoodNet, now only requires the monitoring of salmonella and E. coli.
The changes appear to have gone into effect on July 1; the other six that were previously monitored are now optional, according to reporting by NBC News.
In addition to Listeria, it’s now appears to be optional if participating health departments monitor campylobacter, cyclospora, shigella, vibrio and Yersinia.
The national database includes: hospitalizations, patient’s status, hospital discharge, international travel as well as potential food and environmental exposures.
Health departments in Virginia do not participate in FoodNet. The states that do participate include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Tennessee.
Case study: Federal, state collaboration on deadly Listeria outbreak
The Virginia Department of Health collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on the multi-state outbreak of Listeria linked to the Jarratt-based Boar’s Head plant.
In total, there were 61 cases of Listeria reported in the 2024 outbreak linked to liverwurst which resulted in 60 hospitalizations and 10 deaths in 19 states.
The 10 deaths included one in Illinois, one in New Jersey, two in New York, one in Virginia, one in Florida, one in Tennessee, one in New Mexico and two in South Carolina.
ICYMI
- One year after deadly Listeria outbreak that killed 10, Virginia plant set to reopen
- Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak linked to 10 deaths, 59 hospitalizations in 19 states
- Boar’s Head plant responsible for deadly Listeria outbreak had blood, flies, black mold
- Crystal Graham: Family ties to the town of Jarratt, its history, its namesake, run deep
After the deadly outbreak, Boar’s Head closed the plant and vowed to discontinue liverwurst production permanently.
Inspection reports showed numerous violations that would make anyone cringe: overspray on walls, condensation, blood in puddles on the floor, rancid odors, flies, gnats, cobwebs and mold on walls.
Last month, the company began to advertise for positions at the Jarratt plant signaling its plan to reopen this fall.
FoodNet reporting dialed back due to funding, limited resources
The reason for the cutback to FoodNet: funding and limited resources due to cuts by the Trump administration.
The Department of Health and Human Services has cut approximately 20,000 employees since Trump took office.
Food-safety experts are concerned that the cutbacks may lead to delays in responding to outbreaks, like the 2024 Listeria case.
The U.S. Department of Justice has deemphasized the need to hold businesses accountable, even in instances of death, eliminating its consumer protection branch.
There is concern that the disease monitoring changes could be part of a broader plan by the administration to dial back food safety requirements in the U.S.; leaving states and localities to their own devices.
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Crystal Graham
