US FDA inspects only tiny fraction of foreign produce amid massive diarrhea outbreak

A nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak this summer sickened almost 13,000 people and hospitalized hundreds, with investigators tracing the parasite to iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. Agency records show the FDA had not inspected the supplier’s Mexican facilities for seven years, and overall the agency performed only 1,024 foreign food site visits last year—about 5% of the 19,200 annual inspections Congress directed in 2011.

The inspection gap is most pronounced in Mexico, which provides 96% of U.S. berries and over 60% of leafy greens and peppers, yet only about 2% of its facilities have been examined since 2009. Former FDA officials cite chronic underfunding, severe understaffing and travel-budget cuts after early-2025 federal reductions as key obstacles. While the FDA argues that border testing, record audits and predictive models complement site visits, food-safety advocates say physical checks are essential to verify compliance. Industry groups note that foreign growers are legally required to follow U.S. safety standards, but critics argue one outlet oversight system leaves raw produce vulnerable.