The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reevaluated the safety of artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame K, or additive E 950) for the first time since 2000, raising the acceptable daily intake. However, EFSA recommended lowering the maximum limits for lead and mercury in E 950.
U.S. Representatives have reintroduced the Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025 to Congress, which would require FDA to reevaluate the safety of chemicals—including “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) substances, food dyes, and food contact substances—every three years.
A Salmonella outbreak linked to cage-free and organic eggs supplied by California-based August Egg Company has come to a close with 134 infections, 38 hospitalizations, and one death across ten states. All recalled eggs are now expired and should no longer be available in stores, per FDA.
Through its annual mentorship program, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), with support from CDC, has awarded $356,000 to local health departments across the country to expand their wastewater monitoring efforts. Wastewater monitoring can be a useful tool for foodborne illness outbreak surveillance.
In Northwestern China, more than 200 children enrolled at a private kindergarten have been hospitalized for lead poisoning. Investigators suspect school kitchen staff used non-edible lead paint to make certain food items. Officials arrested eight people.
Fortress Technology’s new Raptor BBK Combination system is a compact inspection system combining a metal detector and heavy duty checkweigher with an innovative reject conveyor, ideal for millers, ingredient suppliers, and wholesalers handling heavy bags of dry goods.
Per Trace One’s analysis of FDA National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) data, the U.S. states with the highest levels of Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination in retail meat are Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) 2025 Dirty Dozen list considers pesticide toxicity for the first time. While critics say the list is alarmist and may discourage the consumption of safe fruit and vegetables, EWG argues that “legal does not mean safe” when it comes to pesticide residues.
During its 100th session held in June, the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) evaluated the safety of eight food additives and one processing aid, including rosemary extract, Gardenia Blue, and carob bean gum, and revised the specifications of seven other additives and processing aids.
The new Pack 550 PRO X-ray system from Eagle Product Inspection maintains contaminant detection accuracy, ensures product integrity, and meets evolving retailer and regulatory demands—even as packaging complexity increases.