Should We Be Afraid of Our Food?
The article criticizes the current administration for dismantling food-safety regulations, citing recent outbreaks of cyclosporiasis and botulism in infant formula. It argues that these regulatory rollbacks are directly contributing to increased public health risks.
Why it matters
It raises significant concerns about the oversight of the food supply chain and the potential for preventable health crises due to policy changes.
America's food-safety system is being methodically dismantled by the Trump administration.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Bridgeman Images; Jerry Cooke / Getty; Mary Evans / Bridgeman Images; September 3, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save T he cyclosporiasis outbreak that has garnered so much attention in recent months is unquestionably bad news. People have been sickened in at least 48 states, and the number of lab-confirmed cases—about 17,000—represents only a fraction of the number of people who have been infected by the parasite.
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