Researchers from CDC, FDA, and USDA trained an artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning model to conduct food source attribution for human cases of salmonellosis by analyzing whole genome sequencing (WGS) data for Salmonella isolates. With further research, similar models could be a useful tool in foodborne illness outbreak investigations.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its estimates for the burden of domestically acquired foodborne illnesses in the U.S. caused by major pathogens. Norovirus was the leading cause of illnesses and hospitalizations, but Salmonella topped fatalities.
According to a survey by CDC researchers, nine percent of consumers reported eating prepackaged frozen vegetables raw and 40 percent reported not following cooking instructions, underlining the importance of preventive controls and processing steps to reduce pathogen contamination during production.
CDC released a summary of Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System data, analyzing the causes of foodborne illness outbreaks that occurred between 2014 and 2022.
Following mass layoffs that swept regulatory agencies, including those responsible for food safety and foodborne illness response, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has walked back its orders to dismiss probationary employees. The change was prompted by a court decision that deemed OPM’s orders to dismiss staffers as unlawful.
Since the inauguration of President Trump, there has been an avalanche of changes at federal regulatory agencies responsible for U.S. food safety and foodborne illness response (FDA, USDA, and CDC), including mass layoffs, the resignation and new appointments of top officials, a communications freeze, and more.
Changes are coming to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the recent confirmation of President Trump's nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) as Secretary, amid talks of major workforce reductions at HHS agencies including FDA and CDC.
A recent report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted the complex and fragmented oversight of the U.S. food supply, concluding that a national food safety strategy could help ensure federal agencies are working together to more successfully reduce foodborne illnesses.
The Trump Administration has ordered U.S. public health agencies, such as CDC and FDA, to temporarily pause external communications, including scientific reports and health advisories, until further notice. Any messaging leaving an HHS agency must be approved by a presidential appointee.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we are joined by milk and dairy safety experts from FDA, CDC, and NCIMS to mark 100 years since the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) was adopted. We discuss the requirements and public health impact of PMO, the increasing consumer interest in raw milk and dairy, and the regulatory futures of milk and dairy safety and the PMO.
