Contamination Control

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In the June/July Food Safety Insights column, a significant number of global food processors reported adopting new analytical testing technologies. This column dives further into processors' adoption of analytical testing technologies, whether for laboratory or in-plant use.

A new study has found that California community drinking water systems serving majority Latino communities are disproportionately contaminated by higher nitrate and arsenic contamination, and that the issue is exacerbated by droughts.

California AB 2316, which is named the California School Food Safety Act and aims to ban six synthetic food dyes from school foods, will soon face an important vote. Proponents and detractors of the bill have made their voices heard ahead of the vote. 

New regulations concerning per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) have impacted the food and beverage industry, but it will take time to replace PFAS with safe substances, as well as to establish comprehensive regulations and enforcement. However, time is running out.

Foreign material (FM) is a known food safety hazard that is starting to be seen as an expected and accepted risk. FM detection devices are abundant in production facilities, but a detection device should never be viewed as a control point; rather, it is an insurance policy against food adulteration.

This article explores novel cold plasma technology and its applications in food processing. The article covers the basics of plasma, its mode of action for the inactivation of microorganisms, the current state of the technology, and future challenges to commercialization. 

A recent study has demonstrated that targeting high-virulence Salmonella serotypes in risk management strategies and food safety regulation for poultry products—such as USDA’s new regulatory framework for Salmonella in raw poultry parts—could improve public health outcomes.

Following a survey of 3.2 million pigs raised under the U.S. Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA+) program, USDA has announced a total absence of Trichinella infections in the national pork supply—a parasite that was once a major food safety risk, but is now controlled.

A recent, 8-year-long analysis of U.S. dark chocolate and cocoa products revealed a significant portion of samples to contain cadmium and lead levels exceeding California Proposition 65 maximum allowable limits, although concentrations of toxic heavy metals were seen to reduce over time.

On September 25, FDA will hold a public meeting on its work to develop an enhanced systematic process for the postmarket assessment of chemicals in foods, with in-person and virtual attendance options available.