With the passage of House Bill 81, Utah will ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems beginning May 7, 2025. Community water fluoridation has come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns about its affect on children’s IQ.
A project funded by the Center for Produce Safety is developing an identification and deterrent system for high-risk birds in produce fields based on sound surveillance and artificial intelligence (AI). The tool would automatically deploy interventions to drive away birds that are more likely to spread foodborne pathogens.
The European Commission published a FAQ document to clarify the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2025/179, which mandates whole genome sequencing (WGS) testing and data reporting for important foodborne pathogens when suspected to be associated with a foodborne illness outbreak.
Boar's Head has appointed Natalie Dyenson, M.P.H. as its new Chief Food Safety Officer, a new role at the organization that was established as part of a series of initiatives to prioritize food safety following a significant listeriosis outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats in 2024.
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has opened a call to all small- and medium-sized businesses in the novel foods sector that are interested in receiving the agency’s guidance on the application requirements for novel food authorization in the EU.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a major restructuring that includes the firing of 10,000 employees across all its departments. FDA and CDC will lose 3,500 and 2,400 current staffers, respectively. HHS says FDA food reviewers and inspectors will not be affected.
A recent study identified gaps in currently used food safety training and certification materials for food handlers, and tested the effectiveness of a supplementary training toolkit in improving knowledge and confidence outcomes of low-literacy employees.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been awarded £1.4 million for the development of a new innovation hub focused on improving the regulation of novel foods and novel food technologies, especially precision fermentation.
The updated Fifth Edition of FDA’s Food Allergen Q&A Guidance has been published in a searchable webpage format. Revisions include the addition of sesame as a major food allergen, as well as the removal of some tree nuts, including coconut, from the list of major food allergens.
Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. has been confirmed by the Senate as the new FDA Commissioner. In his confirmation hearing, Dr. Makary said he would address food as it impacts health, and also said that he would review the mass layoffs that swept the agency in February.
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