This episode of Food Safety Five covers a new EU regulation that limits PFAS in food packaging and bans single-use plastics for fruit and vegetables under a certain weight, among other changes. Also discussed is a bill introduced to the New York State legislature to ban certain food additives and tighten requirements for GRAS ingredients.
An analysis conducted by German consumer protection group ÖKO TEST demonstrated that bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) are often found in pizza takeout boxes and can migrate into pizzas.
The EU has adopted a new regulation requiring Member States to conduct whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the isolates of five important pathogens during the investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks, and sets data-sharing parameters.
EU agencies are recommending actions the agriculture sector should take toward the more responsible use of azole-based fungicides, due to the risk of Aspergillus becoming azole-resistant, making treatment for human infections less effective.
Regulation (EU) 2025/40, also known as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, limits per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging, bans single-use plastics for most produce, sets requirements for single-use containers in foodservice, and makes other changes to EU plastic food packaging rules.
An analysis conducted by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) raises concerns about trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), in European mineral waters, which are sourced from deep underground and are typically believed to be more protected from pollutants than other waters.
The European Commission has updated its list of food imports from certain countries that are subjected to temporarily increased official controls due to contamination risk.
Taking place online in February 2025 and hosted by Germany’s Food Safety Authority, the annual International Training for Safer Food is a training program on food safety risk management, intended for public health authority staff members in non-EU countries who handle issues related to food safety.
The EU has implemented a new regulation that requires U.S. importers of apiculture products like honey to register with the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). Prior to TRACES registration, businesses must complete an assessment with USDA and an application with FDA.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has opened a public consultation on a draft scientific opinion about the public health risks associated with perchlorate in food. EFSA increased the tolerable daily intake for the chemical and concluded no health risk to the general population at current exposure levels.
