FDA Logs 5,504 Recalls As Grocery Inflation Stays Elevated

According to Axios, the average U.S. household now spends more than $10,000 a year on groceries, while two-thirds of Americans say they are spending too much and food prices are up more than 18% since 2022. FDA data show 5,504 products have been recalled so far in 2026, slightly above 5,461 last year but below 6,524 in 2024, and the agency recently reached a record 19 simultaneous outbreak investigations covering items from infant formula to jalapeños. Food-safety advocates told Axios they are worried about declining federal surveillance after the Trump administration eliminated or pushed out thousands of workers across the CDC, FDA and USDA, prompting federal officials to say they plan fewer inspections. Cornell University economist Christopher Barrett said staffing cuts would lead to more foodborne illness, more expensive recalls and higher costs for companies and consumers. Former USDA Chief Economist Joseph Glauber said recalls are not tightly linked to grocery inflation, which he said is being driven instead by higher energy prices tied to the war in Iran, trade policies and weather disruptions affecting specific foods such as beef, tomatoes and citrus.