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.
In a first-of-its-kind study analyzing large population-level datasets, researchers from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine estimated that communities exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) -contaminated drinking water experience up to 33 percent higher incidence of certain cancers.
A recent study of Pseudomonas spoilage microorganisms isolated from dairy products in Spain identified the presence of highly biofilm-forming, antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains, presenting challenges for dairy industry control strategies, and posing the risk of transfer of AMR genes to pathogenic foodborne bacteria.
“NSF Certification Guideline 537: PFAS-Free Products for Nonfood Compounds and Food Equipment Materials” (NSF 537) is a new certification for suppliers of food equipment materials, nonfood compounds, and chemicals to distinguish their products as free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS).
To improve upon the commonly used precautionary, hazards-based approach to allergen labeling, FAO and WHO have developed a scientific approach to food allergen labeling based on actual risk, such as the likelihood and severity of an allergic reaction occurring.
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. The model showed promise, estimating that the majority of salmonellosis cases are caused by chicken and vegetables
A study from Public Health Agency of Canada researchers raised concerns about the persistence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in broiler chickens that are resistant to important Category I antimicrobials.
Created for ease of reference and to help industry market products that are safe for consumers, FDA’s new Chemical Contaminants Transparency tool is an online, searchable database of consolidated contaminant levels (e.g., tolerances, action levels, and guidance levels).
FAO has published a summary of an expert meeting on foodborne toxigenic clostridia (i.e., Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridioides difficile), characterizing their relevant food safety aspects, describing control measures, and identifying knowledge gaps and research needs.
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.
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