In August 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a significant reduction in its FoodNet pathogen surveillance program—from monitoring eight major pathogens to just two. While the agency cited resource constraints and shifting priorities, the decision leaves major gaps in the nation’s food safety net.
For food producers, distributors, and retailers, this shift has profound implications. Without comprehensive federal oversight, the responsibility to detect and control pathogens increasingly falls on the private sector. Independent laboratories like CMDC Labs (Longmont, CO) now play a critical role in ensuring pathogens don’t slip through the cracks and reach consumers.
This article explores the surveillance cut, its consequences, and how the industry can fill the gap with robust testing, microbial monitoring, and proactive trend analysis.
What FoodNet is—and why the cut matters
FoodNet is the CDC’s flagship active surveillance system for foodborne pathogens. Since its inception in 1996, it has monitored infections caused by bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, and others across multiple U.S. sites.
By scaling back from eight pathogens to two, FoodNet will no longer systematically track several organisms with long histories of causing outbreaks, recalls, and hospitalizations. This creates three pressing issues:
- Blind spots in national data – Trends in pathogens like Listeria or Campylobacter may now go unnoticed until large outbreaks occur.
- Delayed response – Without timely federal data, recalls may be slower, exposing more consumers to risk.
- Erosion of public trust – Families expect government oversight to safeguard their food. Gaps can fuel uncertainty and skepticism.
Which pathogens are no longer fully monitored
The exact two pathogens FoodNet will continue tracking are Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7—both high-profile due to their frequency and severity. However, the reduction means six pathogens are losing active surveillance, including:
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Campylobacter
- Shigella
- Yersinia
- Non-O157 E. coli strains
- Vibrio species
Each of these has been tied to serious illnesses and costly recalls in recent years, from Listeria in ready-to-eat deli meats to Vibrio in seafood. Losing active tracking does not make them less dangerous—it simply makes outbreaks harder to spot early.
Why industry must step up
For producers and retailers, relying on federal surveillance alone has never been sufficient. But now, the reduction of FoodNet makes industry-led testing even more essential:
- Preventive compliance: FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) already requires preventive controls. Without federal safety nets, enforcement may become stricter at the plant level.
- Brand protection: Recalls destroy consumer trust—sometimes irreparably. Testing is an insurance policy against brand damage.
- Global supply chain demands: Export markets increasingly demand proof of robust safety systems, regardless of U.S. regulatory cuts.
In short, proactive testing is no longer optional; it’s the only way to maintain safety, compliance, and consumer confidence.
The role of independent labs
Independent labs like CMDC Labs serve as critical partners in this new landscape by offering:
- Comprehensive pathogen detection
- PCR/qPCR and culture methods for Listeria, Campylobacter, Shigella, and others no longer tracked by CDC.
- Rapid turnaround for both raw materials and finished products.
- Environmental monitoring programs
- Zone-based swabbing strategies to detect pathogens in drains, floors, and equipment surfaces.
- Trending data that identifies recurring hotspots before they cause contamination.
- Shelf-life and challenge studies
- Simulating storage and transport conditions to see how pathogens behave over time.
- Generating actionable insights to extend product safety windows.
- Trend analysis and risk modeling
- Identifying seasonal or supplier-based patterns of contamination.
- Providing data-driven insights for procurement and processing adjustments.
Case examples: what happens when surveillance weakens
- Listeria in soft cheeses: Multiple high-profile recalls have shown how quickly Listeria can spread in ready-to-eat environments. Without federal tracking, it’s up to producers to test aggressively.
- Campylobacter in poultry: One of the most common foodborne pathogens in the U.S. With weaker CDC data, poultry companies must rely on internal monitoring to spot emerging risks.
- Shigella in fresh produce: Outbreaks linked to bagged salads and fresh vegetables are a reminder that low-moisture foods are not immune.
Each of these examples proves the same point: if testing doesn’t happen in plants, warehouses, and labs—it doesn’t happen at all.
The CMDC Labs advantage
At CMDC Labs, we help clients turn the CDC’s cutback into an opportunity to lead in safety rather than lag behind. Our solutions include:
- AOAC-compliant testing methods for pathogens across all food categories.
- ISO 17025-accredited lab practices trusted by regulators, auditors, and retailers.
- Customized monitoring plans designed to fit specific facility layouts, products, and risk profiles.
- Regulatory readiness audits that prepare teams for FDA or USDA inspections, even as federal surveillance shrinks.
- Data interpretation services that go beyond results—helping clients understand what the numbers mean and what to do next.
A call to action for food producers
With FoodNet scaled back, industry leaders must:
- Expand internal testing to cover the pathogens no longer federally tracked.
- Invest in trend analysis to detect long-term shifts that federal data once highlighted.
- Work with independent labs to validate results and demonstrate accountability to regulators, retailers, and consumers.
This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about leadership. Companies that step up now will be the ones consumers trust when headlines about outbreaks inevitably surface.
Conclusion
The CDC’s decision to reduce FoodNet surveillance from eight pathogens to two marks a turning point in U.S. food safety oversight. While federal monitoring shrinks, the risks from Listeria, Campylobacter, and other pathogens remain as potent as ever.
For the food industry, the path forward is clear: step up testing, strengthen monitoring, and partner with trusted independent labs. At CMDC Labs, we provide the science, methods, and expertise to help food producers stay safe, compliant, and resilient—even when federal oversight thins.
Because pathogens don’t stop evolving when surveillance does—and safety is too important to leave to chance.
Sources: Food-Safety.com report on CDC FoodNet surveillance cuts (Aug 2025); CDC FoodNet program background; U.S. FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) guidance; USDA and FDA pathogen control regulations; peer-reviewed literature on Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, and foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S.
