URBANA, Ill. – A summer of illnesses related to food has led to a sharp decline in the trust consumers place on the U.S. food system, according to a new report, “Lettuce Talk About Food Safety: Consumer Responses to Recent Outbreaks,” published by farmdocDAILY.

“Consumer perceptions of food category safety have important implications for food system players, including farmers, food manufacturers, grocery retailers and restaurants. Additionally, concerns around food safety have implications for those in policy, as the public considers food safety and inspection the most important role of relevant federal agencies and candidates’ statements on food safety and inspection are expected to impact Midterm election votes,” according to the report, published on Sept. 9. 

Food illness outbreaks this summer have included:

- Cyclospora-contaminated iceberg lettuce sickened over 11,000 across 20 states and led to a recall in mid-July of the product in both food service settings and retail stores. A Sept. 11 statement from the Food and Drug Administration declared the outbreak over, and estimated the total case count associated with the multistate outbreak at 12,883 illnesses reported from 21 states, resulting in two deaths.

- Salmonella-contaminated eggs sickened 134 across 18 states and led to a recall near the end of July.

- E. coli-contaminated frozen blueberries sickened 17 cases across Florida and Georgia and led to multiple recalls in July.

- Salmonella-contaminated jalapeños sickened 431 across 32 states and led to a recall at the beginning of August.

- An investigation of both E. coli and salmonella in sprouts is ongoing, with 55 current cases across 15 states and a recall announced on Aug. 22.

Farmers and food producers who aren’t responsible for food contamination outbreaks are suffering due to dampened demand for multiple fresh produce categories and demand from some restaurants, according to a survey from research firm Chicory. More than half (51.8 percent) of survey respondents said they have purchased fewer bagged salad kits during the past month, while 43.7 percent reported buying less loose lettuce or leafy greens, reported Samantha Nelson, of the Path to Purchase Institute. “While 30 percent said their produce purchases have not changed, respondents reported that they’ve reduced purchases of fresh berries (29.4 percent), fresh herbs (28.3 percent) and other fresh fruits and vegetables (19.6 percent),” she said.

Shoppers are substituting fresh produce with products they perceive as lower risk, including frozen fruits and vegetables (32.3 percent), canned produce (28.5 percent) and jarred or shelf-stable products (17.3 percent). At the same time, 26.2 percent said they are “simply eating less produce,” while 40.5 percent of the survey respondents reported making no substitutions.

A glance at a Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey from the last two years sheds light on the evolving public perceptions of food safety and responses to the recent foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls. The surveys show that overall, U.S. consumers agree that the food system produces food that is safe to eat. However, confidence in the food chain has recently declined. An August survey showed that the share of consumers that strongly agree declined (from 36 percent in November 2024 to 31 percent) and the share of consumers that somewhat disagreed increased (from 9 percent to 12 percent).

Also in August, Gardner survey respondents were asked about their awareness and responses to recent outbreaks. “The majority indicated they were aware of the outbreaks and recalls that affected lettuce (74 percent aware), jalapeños (60 percent aware) and eggs (53 percent aware). Beyond awareness, respondents were asked if they made any changes to the types of foods they purchased in the last month due to concerns about foodborne illness. We find that, overall, 49 percent of respondents indicated they made changes to the groceries they purchased and 40 percent indicated they had made changes to the restaurants they purchased from,” survey authors reported.

Geographic awareness of recent food safety events differed slightly, with awareness of the outbreaks affecting lettuce and jalapeño peppers highest in the Midwest (78 percent and 63 percent, respectively). Awareness of the event affecting eggs was highest in the West (58 percent) and South (53 percent). In addition, the survey found that consumers in the Midwest reported making changes to the foods they purchased at the highest rate across all regions.

As a result of the recent foodborne illness scares, local growers and small-scale farmers are experiencing a surge in demand and sales. This is according to FRESHFARM Food Hub, whose markets and stands generated $30.4 million in sales for Mid-Atlantic farmers and producers in 2025. “Local, short supply chains connect buyers directly to growers, so you know who grew your food and how. You can ask the person who grows your food directly about their practices and the protections they have in place to keep food safe,” according to a recent FRESHFARM blog.

Outbreaks of food borne diseases caused by E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria are a serious concern in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates that around 265,000 cases of E. coli infections occur each year in the U.S., resulting in dozens of deaths (primarily through STEC-0157 strains).

The FDA states on their website that cases of food poisoning, including E. coli, cause an “estimated 48 million people to get sick, 128,000 to be hospitalized, and 3,000 to die” annually. Consumers should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. For more information visit the FDA food website at www.fda.gov/food.