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This article examines food recall trends for 2024, including USDA and FDA guidance expanding the scope of recalls and class action lawsuits filed in response to foodborne illness and recall events. The author discusses what these trends mean for industry, and if they are expected to continue into the future.

This article provides a regulatory perspective on some of the technical challenges that growing cannabis markets face, specifically focusing on product standardization, quality control testing, and consumer education and awareness amid a rapidly developing industry.

As a result of Nevada state tracing and investigation following positive silo testing results under USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy, USDA laboratories have confirmed through whole genome sequencing the first detection of a second genotype of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) in dairy cattle.

The EU has adopted a new regulation requiring Member States to conduct whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the isolates of five important pathogens during the investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks, and sets data-sharing parameters.

Recently reintroduced to Congress, the bipartisan Protect Infant Formula From Contamination Act aims to strengthen FDA’s oversight of infant formula manufacturers by expanding certain authorities, allowing the agency to better ensure the safety and resiliency of the country’s infant formula supply. 

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released two new resource documents: a new compilation of the Food Standards Code, and a guidance document on how the agency conducts dietary exposure assessments.

A recent report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted the complex and fragmented oversight of the U.S. food supply, concluding that a national food safety strategy could help ensure federal agencies are working together to more successfully reduce foodborne illnesses.

Reintroduced to U.S. Congress on February 3, the Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act seeks to grant FDA the authority to collect microbial samples from concentrated animal feeding operations, also referred to as “factory farms,” during foodborne illness outbreak investigations.

This episode of Food Safety Five covers the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) recent ban on red dye 3, including the legal and scientific justifications for the decision, as well as external pressures from various parties leading to the ban.

The Tucson Environmental Justice Task Force has sued FDA for failing to act on a petition urging the agency to set limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in foods.