Sunday Edition: Food imports

The United States imports as much as 20 percent of its food supply, with horticultural products, seafood, and specialty foods dominating, sourced primarily from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union.

1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that the outbreak of infant botulism traced to ByHeart powdered formula is over. In all, 48 infants were hospitalized but none died. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still investigating the root cause of the outbreak.
2. Three state legislatures are considering bills that would ease restrictions on the sale of raw, unpasteurized milk. Lawmakers in Iowa, Oklahoma and Michigan are debating new rules that would allow the sale of raw milk directly to consumers. Of all outbreaks attributed to dairy products in recent decades, 96 percent were caused by raw milk which has not been treated to kill bacteria and viruses.
3. The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing this week for Surgeon General nominee Casey Means. The hearing included questions about Means’ stand on vaccines, access to contraception and psychedelics used as medicine. Means also used the platform to vow to “get more whole, healthy foods on American plates.” If confirmed, Means could play a key role in advancing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
4. Concerns about potential mismatches in food safety standards between the United Kingdom and India have arisen in the process of implementing the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. As global trade in food products grows in importance, such concerns may become more visible as countries seek to fill gaps in domestic production and to take advantage of seasonal products from different parts of the world.

Today’s Topic: Food Imports

Food imports to the United States now exceed exports, a phenomenon with implications for everything from the balance of trade to food safety.

The trend lines crossed in 2024 when food imports hit $205 billion, surpassing the $176 billion of exports racked up by American farms and food businesses. America’s appetite for imported foods seems to be insatiable.