Former top US food safety official says Trump’s handling of cyclospora is ‘catastrophic’

Donald Trump's former top food safety official has labeled the administration's response to a widespread cyclospora outbreak as "catastrophic." Frank Yiannas, who served as deputy commissioner for food policy at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under both Trump and Biden, is calling for an independent review of the federal government's actions.

The outbreak, caused by a parasite commonly found on raw produce, has sickened thousands of people in the United States. Yiannas, who held his position from 2018 to 2023, believes the federal response was severely mismanaged, necessitating a thorough, external examination.

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catastrophic

His critique highlights concerns about the effectiveness of public health responses during the Trump administration. The call for an independent review suggests a belief that the existing federal mechanisms failed to adequately address the public health crisis posed by the cyclospora parasite.

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There should be an independent review of the federal government’s response to the rash of illnesses caused by the spread of a parasite found on raw produce.