Limited Disclosure in E. coli Outbreak Raises Food Safety Concerns

An outbreak of E. coli that affected nearly 90 people across 15 states last fall—including one fatality and a life-threatening illness in a 9-year-old boy—went largely unpublicized by federal health officials, the Washington Post reports.

Despite identifying the source of contamination as a specific ranch and lettuce processor, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opted not to release details to the public, citing that the contaminated product was no longer on the market.

The case of Colton George, a young Indiana boy who became severely ill after consuming tainted romaine lettuce, has drawn renewed attention to the incident. A lawsuit filed by his family in April alleges the lettuce grower was responsible for the contamination. Genetic testing linked Colton’s infection to the same E. coli strain that was found in the broader outbreak.

According to an internal FDA memo dated February 11, the outbreak was traced to a single processor and grower. However, no public announcement followed the investigation’s conclusion—a decision that experts say diverges from typical agency protocol. Bill Marler, a food safety attorney representing the George family, said such information is crucial not only for transparency but also to hold producers accountable and prevent future incidents.

Critics argue that this lack of communication, combined with recent regulatory rollbacks and staffing reductions, reflects a broader trend of scaling back food safety measures. Under the Trump administration, several food safety initiatives have been suspended or delayed, including a proposed USDA rule to reduce salmonella in poultry and compliance with a rule designed to speed up the identification and recall of contaminated foods.

In addition, budget and personnel cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—the parent agency of both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—have impacted food safety programs. The FDA has laid off scientists and communications staff, some of whom played key roles in public outreach and lab testing. Although FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has said the reductions won’t affect essential operations, former agency officials and public health experts express skepticism.

“The FDA said inspectors weren’t affected,” said Susan Mayne, a former FDA official. “But critical lab scientists and communication experts were let go. That delays alerts that save lives.”

The Justice Department has also moved to disband a unit responsible for pursuing legal action against companies selling contaminated food. Critics say this weakens accountability and reduces the likelihood of penalties for food safety violations.

Some former FDA staff have suggested the agency is shifting responsibilities for inspections to states, but lawmakers and consumer advocates warn that many states lack the infrastructure and resources to manage this effectively. Rep. Shontel M. Brown (D-Ohio) said the move could place consumers at greater risk.

E. coli and other foodborne pathogens continue to pose significant public health threats in the United States. Federal estimates suggest that foodborne illnesses cause 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths each year, with economic losses topping $75 billion annually.

While the FDA has announced plans to increase unannounced inspections abroad, experts question the feasibility, citing logistical barriers such as travel visas that could inadvertently alert companies ahead of inspections.

Meanwhile, the human cost remains deeply personal for affected families. Colton George was hospitalized for nearly three weeks, undergoing dialysis and battling kidney failure. His family continues to push for transparency and accountability.

“I am not happy with the CDC and FDA,” said Chris George, Colton’s father. “Victims have a right to know who made them sick.”