WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FDA has reported two major foodborne illness outbreaks in 2025, one linked to Salmonella Enteritidis in imported pastries and another tied to Listeria monocytogenes in frozen nutritional shakes. Despite the severity of both outbreaks, the CDC has remained notably absent in issuing public warnings, raising concerns about transparency and public health communication.
Salmonella outbreak: Imported pastries under scrutiny
A multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak has been traced to Sweet Cream-brand mini pastries, which were manufactured in Italy and imported into the U.S. through a Canadian distributor. The FDA began investigating in January 2025 after being notified by Canadian health authorities that the same strain of Salmonella was responsible for illnesses in the U.S.
As of January 29, 2025, 18 cases have been reported across seven states, with one hospitalization. While no deaths have been recorded, the outbreak prompted a recall of the affected products from two U.S. distributors. A traceback investigation confirmed that at least one sickened individual had consumed the pastries at a restaurant supplied by the implicated distributor.
Key facts about the Salmonella outbreak:
- Case count: 18 sick, 1 hospitalization, 0 deaths.
- States affected: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
- Canadian impact: 69 additional cases in five provinces.
- Exposure link: 60% of U.S. victims reported eating the pastries.
Listeria outbreak: Long-term care facilities hit hard
In a separate outbreak, frozen supplemental shakes under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands have been linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that dates back to 2018. The FDA was notified in late 2024 about the outbreak, which has sickened at least 38 people across 21 states, leading to 37 hospitalizations and 11 deaths. Many of those affected lived in long-term care facilities or were already hospitalized when they fell ill.
The FDA’s traceback investigation confirmed that these facilities had been receiving the recalled shakes for years. Environmental samples collected as part of the probe revealed the outbreak strain of Listeria in production environments linked to the shakes. The recall of the implicated products was issued on February 22, 2025.
Key facts about the Listeria outbreak:
- Case count: 38 sick, 37 hospitalized, 11 deaths.
- Illness range: 2018 to present.
- States affected: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.
- Vulnerable populations hit hardest: 89% of victims were long-term care residents or already hospitalized when they became sick.
Why is the CDC silent?
Despite the FDA’s active role in investigating and reporting these outbreaks, the CDC has yet to issue any public announcements or post the outbreaks on its website. Historically, the CDC has been a key player in foodborne illness outbreak reporting, issuing public health warnings, and coordinating responses. However, in this case, its silence has raised red flags among food safety advocates.
Veteran food safety attorney Bill Marler has voiced concerns over the CDC’s failure to inform the public.
“It is imperative to have active reporting on recalls by our government officials to help prevent more illnesses,” Marler said, highlighting how unusual it is for the CDC to remain quiet on outbreaks of this scale.
The CDC’s absence in these reports is especially alarming given that one outbreak dates back over six years and continues to cause hospitalizations and deaths. Public health transparency is critical in preventing further cases, particularly in high-risk populations like those affected by the Listeria outbreak.
With foodborne illnesses continuing to impact communities nationwide, the silence from the CDC raises the question: Has public health communication taken a backseat when it’s needed most?