Contamination Control

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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.

Key Technology has introduced its new COMPASS® optical sorter for individually quick frozen foods, which identifies and removes foreign material and product defects.

Following the death of one restaurant patron who consumed a ground beef burger contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC), a Montana meat producer has announced a voluntary recall.

FDA recently asserted that available scientific evidence “does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.” However, the agency acknowledges the current science is limited by a lack of standard definitions or methods. 

Considering new data, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has found that there is insufficient evidence to conclude the safety of food contact materials containing bamboo and similar unauthorized plant-based materials.