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In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Dr. Christopher Daubert, President of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri, about the value of a food science education, as well as the complex food system challenges that today's students, who make up tomorrow's workforce, can help address.

As we observe World Food Safety Day on June 7, with the theme "Science in Action," we must remember that science only works when those responsible for acting on it are equipped to do so. Expectations for food safety inspections and investigations remain high in the U.S., but the workforce responsible for ensuring the safety of the food supply is shrinking.

The UK National Food Crime Unit’s (NFCU's) Control Strategy for 2025–2026 outlines the unit’s current food crime priorities, bringing focus to its efforts to “prevent food crime, deter and disrupt food criminals, and bring offenders to justice.”

In the first of this two-part episode of Food Safety Matters, we interviewed professionals from academia, consumer advocacy, and foodservice, live from the show floor of the Food Safety Summit, which took place on May 12–15 in Rosemont, Illinois. We discussed leadership, food additives, leveraging AI for food safety, and more.

According to FDA, between 2018 and 2025, 42 people were sickened and 14 died across 21 states after consuming Listeria monocytogenes-contaminated Sysco Imperial and Lyons ReadyCare Frozen Supplemental Shakes that were served at long-term care facilities and hospitals. 

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Christian Ararat, a seasoned food safety and quality professional with a global perspective, about a range of topics, including auditing, traceability, certifications, exporting to the U.S., and artificial intelligence (AI). We also hear from Joseph Corby, the recipient of Food Safety Magazine’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award, about his illustrious career and advocacy work.

Food safety experts say the ability to enter and search premises immediately following the arrest of food fraud suspects will make it much more difficult for criminals to dispose of incriminating evidence and cover their tracks.

At present, food safety systems face many hurdles. The Vienna Food Safety Forum 2025 provides a platform to showcase how new digital solutions efforts can improve food safety surveillance systems and quality assurance practices by deploying technological innovation and collaborative platforms.

A recent study showed the high prevalence of Campylobacter in Nigeria with poultry as the primary reservoir, carrying significant food safety implications, and highlighting the importance of controlling the pathogen from a One Health perspective.

In an April 25 speech, UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) Chief Executive Katie Pettifer described efforts FSA is taking to improve meat industry regulation, including supporting the adoption of new technologies, negotiating international trade agreements, addressing inspector and veterinarian workforce shortages, evaluating inspection charge discounts, and tackling food crime.