Retail and foodservice operations must take active responsibility for the safety of RTE products by treating them as high-risk items requiring ongoing control
This article explores the critical yet underappreciated vulnerabilities of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in retail and foodservice settings, including blind spots in handling practices, supplier-level failures, and the vital importance of reheating protocols and environmental controls.
Walmart is the latest company to say it will remove synthetic dyes from its private-label food brands, as well as 30 other additives, including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes.
The resources for industry include updated FAQs and information about how FDA plans to implement the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.
Developed by an industry consortium led by Western Growers and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Roadmap to Sustainable Fresh Produce Packaging offers pragmatic recommendations for transforming packaging practices, based in the holistic concept of “Functional Sustainability.”
Research from the University of Plymouth has demonstrated the ability of nanoplastics to infiltrate the edible radish root, which raises questions about the food safety and public health implications of dietary exposure to plastics.
In August, an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O:157 (STEC) infections at Belgian long-term care facilities sickened more than 70 people, resulting in nine deaths. Raw ground beef is the probable vehicle of illness.
An ongoing outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to prepared pasta meals has expanded to 15 states, causing 20 illnesses, 19 hospitalizations, and four deaths. The meals were sold under various brand names at Walmart, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s stores.
FDA detected radioactive isotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137) in a shipment of Indonesian cloves, due to heightened surveillance efforts initiated after radioactive shrimp was detected in another Indonesian import. Additionally, the radioactive shrimp recall has been expanded, and now affects Walmart, Kroger, and other retailers nationwide.
Although gluten is not one of the Big 9 major food allergens, USDA inspectors will now verify that establishments producing meat, poultry, and egg products are accurately controlling and labeling gluten similar to the Big 9 major food allergens.
A CDC analysis of multistate foodborne illness outbreak investigation data for 2023 reveals the foods and pathogens that caused the greatest number of outbreaks and illnesses. A single salmonellosis outbreak linked to cantaloupe accounted for 407 illnesses.
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