For a time, ByHeart Nutrition and Nara Organics both used Organic West milk dried by Dairy Farmers of America in their infant formula products (confirmed by Food Fix). Both brands have been implicated in botulism outbreaks that occurred within months of each other.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the sale of hemp-derived products containing no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC, allowing a “legal” edibles and beverage market to emerge. The 2025 government shutdown reconciliation bill closed this “loophole,” effective in November.
The action aligns with the wishes of FDA and U.S. Health Secretary RFK Jr. for industry to voluntarily phase out synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses new research linking sorbitol to fatty liver disease, studies suggesting potential health risks associated with both “natural” and artificial color additives, and a major collection of papers examining the health impacts, policy, and marketing practices behind ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Tufts University researchers found that people who ate more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) had worse health outcomes, even after accounting for the overall nutritional quality of the foods.
FDA did not identify deficiencies in ByHeart’s production facilities that could explain the outbreak, but a powdered milk ingredient did test positive for C. botulinum. ByHeart is developing an action plan based on data generated from the investigations.
Researchers found that the sugar alcohol sorbitol can be turned into fructose, leading to fat accumulation in the liver. Gut bacteria may help protect against sorbitol-induced liver damage, but can be overwhelmed by excessive intake.
The agency has also reopened a previously closed Salmonella outbreak investigation linked to powdered moringa supplements, with 22 new reported illnesses in four additional states.
A new study led by the University of Toronto and supported by IAFNS highlights a critical tension in sodium reduction policy, in that many of the foods contributing most to sodium intake also provide essential nutrients.
A series of first-of-their-kind, large-scale epidemiological studies have suggested associations between food dyes—both “natural” and artificial—and preservatives, and an increased risk of chronic health conditions like cancer, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.