With the passage of House Bill 81, Utah will ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems beginning May 7, 2025. Community water fluoridation has come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns about its affect on children’s IQ.
The European Commission published a FAQ document to clarify the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2025/179, which mandates whole genome sequencing (WGS) testing and data reporting for important foodborne pathogens when suspected to be associated with a foodborne illness outbreak.
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has opened a call to all small- and medium-sized businesses in the novel foods sector that are interested in receiving the agency’s guidance on the application requirements for novel food authorization in the EU.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a major restructuring that includes the firing of 10,000 employees across all its departments. FDA and CDC will lose 3,500 and 2,400 current staffers, respectively. HHS says FDA food reviewers and inspectors will not be affected.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been awarded £1.4 million for the development of a new innovation hub focused on improving the regulation of novel foods and novel food technologies, especially precision fermentation.
The updated Fifth Edition of FDA’s Food Allergen Q&A Guidance has been published in a searchable webpage format. Revisions include the addition of sesame as a major food allergen, as well as the removal of some tree nuts, including coconut, from the list of major food allergens.
Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. has been confirmed by the Senate as the new FDA Commissioner. In his confirmation hearing, Dr. Makary said he would address food as it impacts health, and also said that he would review the mass layoffs that swept the agency in February.
The Trump Administration has selected current Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Susan Monarez, Ph.D. as its nominee for the next Director of the agency.
“NSF Certification Guideline 537: PFAS-Free Products for Nonfood Compounds and Food Equipment Materials” (NSF 537) is a new certification for suppliers of food equipment materials, nonfood compounds, and chemicals to distinguish their products as free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS).
Mississippi has become the third U.S. state to ban cell-based food products with the passage of House Bill 1006. As of July 1, 2025, it will be illegal to sell or distribute any cultivated food product in the state.
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