Food safety becomes election issue as major outbreaks, recalls cause concern

Recent outbreaks of foodborne illness and high-profile recalls have made food safety a concern of voters.

The run-up to the midterm elections is turning into a food fight — literally.The summer was marred by a massive foodborne outbreak that sickened scores of people and and the recall of tens of thousands of pounds of imported meat, turning the safety of the U.S. food supply into a topic of national conversation and a political cause.Late-night talk show hosts joked about symptoms that included explosive diarrhea. As a precaution, chain restaurants such as Chipotle and Taco Bell yanked lettuce, jalapeños, and other suspected products from menus. Some food safety scientists blamed the outbreaks on federal cuts to public health.These dynamics collectively have raised questions about whether it's safe to order a salad or burger.Democrats have come out on the offensive, saying voters worried about the safety of the U.S.

food supply should oust Republicans in the midterm elections. The Trump administration has countered by accusing Democrats of scaremongering over food safety to score political points.The political fracas reflects the toll that large-scale outbreaks have had on the public psyche. Midterm voters have long cared about pocketbook issues such as grocery prices, but the spate of recalls has them worried about whether the food they're buying is safe to eat — and political leaders are paying attention.The outbreak linked to cyclospora in lettuce led to almost 20,000 laboratory-confirmed cases