Process Control

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that January 1, 2028 will be the uniform compliance date for all final food labeling regulations published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026.

This year’s Top Ten Food Safety Innovations list was chosen based on which discoveries and technologies attracted the most attention from Food Safety Magazine readers, including new detection methods for chemical and microbiological contaminants, novel processing technologies, preharvest interventions for microbial risks, and others.

To meet the need for sustainable alternatives for food packaging, researchers from Chungnam National University have developed an edible, natural coating that extends the shelf life of fruits.

Earthjustice sued FDA on behalf of consumer advocates that previously petitioned FDA to revoke food contact authorizations for 28 phthalates, and were denied. Although FDA since revoked authorizations for many of those phthalates and says the rest are under review, the plaintiffs hope their lawsuit will force a long-overdue safety reassessment.

On December 19, the European Commission officially adopted a sweeping ban on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA), as well as some other bisphenols considered harmful, in all food contact materials. Industry will be allowed an 18-month transition period.

Hydroxyl radicals offer an effective, safe, and scalable approach to food plant hygiene and food safety. This outcome can be achieved by devices that use ultraviolet (UV) energy to generate hydroxyls from water vapor, turning the ambient air into a mechanism for cleaning. 

This article explores the science behind the controls required to ensure consistent, safe production of both hot and cold smoked fish, using generated wood smoke and liquid smoke, and focusing on two of the most relevant hazards—non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum and Listeria monocytogenes.

Researchers have estimated a global economic cost of $1.5 trillion per year associated with three toxic chemicals commonly found in plastics and food contact materials—BPA, DEHP, and PBDEs—due to premature deaths, chronic diseases, and lower IQs.

Development of a new microbiological risk assessment model, led by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, could help the produce industry determine the best risk management strategies for a diverse range of production scenarios. 

 Penn State Extension is offering a new online course to teach participants about the key elements and impact of food packaging. A continuing education unit is available upon completion of the course.