Restore Full Funding for CDC's FoodNet Program to Protect Public Health

I am deeply concerned about the recent reduction in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) program. As of July 1, 2023, this critical program has been scaled back from monitoring eight foodborne pathogens to only two: salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). This decision leaves six dangerous pathogens - campylobacter, cyclospora, listeria, shigella, vibrio, and Yersinia - without the comprehensive surveillance that FoodNet previously provided. The CDC cites funding constraints as the reason for this alarming cutback. However, I strongly believe that this short-term cost-saving measure could have severe long-term consequences for public health. FoodNet's active surveillance system, which covers approximately 16% of the U.S. population across 10 states, has been instrumental in tracking foodborne illness trends and rapidly identifying outbreaks. By reducing the scope of this program, we risk compromising our ability to detect and respond to potential food safety crises effectively. While the CDC maintains that other surveillance systems will continue to monitor the removed pathogens, food safety experts argue that FoodNet's active surveillance was uniquely comprehensive. This reduction in monitoring capabilities could lead to delayed outbreak detection, increased illness, and potentially even loss of life. I urge you to take immediate action to restore full funding for the FoodNet program. The health and safety of our communities depend on robust food safety surveillance. Please work with your colleagues to allocate the necessary resources to reinstate monitoring for all eight pathogens originally covered by FoodNet. Our nation's food safety infrastructure must not be compromised due to budget constraints, especially when public health is at stake. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to hearing about the steps you will take to ensure the FoodNet program is fully funded and operational across all eight pathogens.