The FDA recently affirmed the safety of the U.S. infant formula supply after extensive testing for heavy metals, PFAS, pesticides, and phthalates, though foodborne pathogens were not part of this testing. Meanwhile, the CDC reported an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, affecting 34 people across 13 states, with many cases in young children. Other food safety updates include a 2023 E. coli outbreak in Japan traced to horse meat, and political developments such as the U.S. House passing the 2026 Farm Bill and the Supreme Court hearing a case related to the weedkiller Roundup.
Horse meat consumption in the U.S. is effectively banned due to the withdrawal of USDA inspection funding in 2006, which shut down domestic horse slaughter plants, though eating horse meat remains legal. This ban arose from food safety concerns, particularly the risk of drug residues like phenylbutazone in horses not raised for food, and cultural opposition. Globally, horse meat remains popular, valued for its lean protein, healthier fat profile, and lower environmental impact compared to beef. Attempts to reopen horse slaughter facilities in the U.S. have faced regulatory and political hurdles, and the current status is unlikely to change without a permanent statutory ban replacing the annual inspection funding prohibition.
