How safe is the food supply after federal cutbacks? Experts are worried
NPR Online NewsMAY 25
FDA Upgrades Tomato Recall to Highest Risk Level Over Salmonella
Above: Canadian supermarket display of fresh tomatoes, photographed on May 7, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta. Image copyright: Artur Widak/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
This recall demonstrates the FDA's commitment to protecting public health by taking swift action when contamination risks emerge. FDA appropriately escalated the warning level as more information became available about the potential severity of exposure. Federal food safety protocols worked exactly as designed, with multiple layers of oversight catching the problem before widespread illness occurred.
Government-critical narrative
There are concerning gaps in U.S. government food safety oversight. The massive cuts to the regulation of food security protocols suggest systemic problems in the supply chain that need immediate attention.