This episode of Food Safety Five covers recent outbreak and regulatory news, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) final findings from the historic Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms lettuce, as well as 10 actions the agency plans to take to prevent future outbreaks; the rollout of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (USDA-FSIS’) strengthened Listeria sampling plan for ready-to-eat (RTE) establishments; and the release of the 2026 FDA Food Code.

The episode also discusses the latest food safety science and research, including a study on high-pressure processing for raw chicken, and a report from the Food and Drug Administration of the United Nations (FAO) highlighting emerging concerns associated with plastic pollution in the agrifood system through a One Health lens.

News Articles:

• FDA Closes Taylor Farms Lettuce Investigation, Announces Action Plan to Prevent Future Cyclospora Outbreaks
• USDA-FSIS to Roll Out Listeria Environmental Sampling Program Nationwide at RTE Facilities
• FDA Releases 2026 Food Code With Updates on Food Defense, Employee Illness, Food Safety Management
• Study Identifies High-Pressure Processing Parameters for Effective Pathogen Reduction in Raw Chicken
• FAO Outlines Risks of Plastic Pollution to Food Safety, Calls for One Health Policy Approach

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Image credit: Md Saiful Islam Khan/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

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