Americans paying more for groceries that are getting riskier to eat

Rising grocery prices in America are being compounded by a fraying food safety net, creating what experts describe as a dual crisis of affordability and safety.

Axios reports that the average US household spends over $10,000 yearly on groceries, with prices up more than 18% since 2022. So far in 2026, 5,504 products have been recalled, while the FDA recently recorded 19 simultaneous outbreak investigations.

Food policy analyst Lauren Borsheim said, “The Trump administration since 2025 has really just dismantled many of the fundamental protections we need to keep our food supply safe.”

Economist Christopher Barrett warned that staffing cuts are worsening food safety outcomes and driving costs higher.