Based on extensive global dialogue and a survey of auditors and industry professionals, a new report published by World of Auditing reveals that food safety auditing is at a pivotal turning point, outlining longstanding challenges and significant opportunities for modernization.
Although the estimated cost per disease incident ranged from $341 USD in Africa to $2,194 in Europe, the total economic burden of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella was highest in Africa—especially sub-Saharan Africa—due to its prevalence and overall impact to public health in the region.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses a farm-to-fork quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for Listeria monocytogenes in cantaloupe, a study demonstrating the efficacy of antimicrobial peptides for reducing Salmonella in poultry, and the adoption of new international standards at the 48th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
To support Codex committee deliberations, an ad hoc joint FAO/WHO committee convened to recommend a gluten reference dose (RfD) in a risk-based precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) framework to ensure food safety for people with both celiac and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated wheat allergies.
An ongoing outbreak of foodborne enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O45:H2 infections is sweeping Germany. More than 400 confirmed and possible cases have been reported, with three associated deaths. The vehicle of illness is likely foodborne, but has not yet been identified.
The European Commission recently published a dashboard that maps all food fraud cases covered in the Joint Research Center (JRC’s) monthly food fraud reports since 2016, including more than 2,000 cases and counting.
A study spanning 15 countries in five continents has revealed that free-range chicken eggs collected near waste sites contain “alarming”levels of toxic flame retardant chemicals. The authors call for stronger national policies and international guidance to protect vulnerable communities.
Although novel data streams like crowdsourced reports and social media posts may allow for rapid identification of foodborne illness events, they can also amplify false signals and lead to inaccurate self-reporting among consumers, as demonstrated in a recent survey.
The 48th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48) included discussions by different Codex committees, offering insight into the ongoing work to advance international food safety standards.
The Spanish Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Murcia (Fecoam) points to recent RASFF food safety notifications about U.S. nuts demonstrating dangerous levels of aflatoxin contamination—with almonds exceeding EU maximum levels by three times in one instance—and calls for stricter import controls.
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