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Federally defining UPFs could allow U.S. regulatory agencies to pursue specific policies for the category. The importance of processing versus nutrient content and formulation in causing diet-related chronic diseases, as well as the value of defining UPFs, has been heavily debated.

In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Dr. Mindy Brashears, Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Dr. Justin Ransom, Administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), about the future of food safety oversight at USDA. With Dr. Brashears, we discuss FSIS' emerging Salmonella SAFE Strategy and Salmonella Gold Standard, the agency's evolving approach to Listeria control, and the creation of a new scientific advisory panel. Dr. Ransom dives into how FSIS is using connected data, AI, and other emerging technologies to strengthen inspection and identify food safety risks earlier.

Two topics of increasing regulatory scrutiny—the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) rule and a federal definition of ultra-processed food (UPFs)—have seen some movement at the U.S. Government's Office of Management and Budget, signaling progress on the Trump administration's food policy agenda.
 

While New World screwworm (NWS) itself does not pose a food safety risk in edible meat or poultry products, residues from veterinary drugs used to treat and prevent infestations of NWS are potential chemical hazards.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has issued a revised directive outlining financial management procedures for state cooperative inspection programs. The directive replaced fiscal guidance that had been in effect since March 2004.

Given the headlines coming out of 2025, it would be reasonable to expect a shift in recall patterns in the food industry. Yet, looking past the headlines and into the numbers, 2025 remained remarkably consistent with the past decade of recall trends, in terms of count and cause. 

The Memorandum of Understanding expands interagency collaboration on food contaminant monitoring, including for toxic heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), under the National Residue Program.

Effective July 20, to support risk surveillance, the agency will perform metals analysis on samples that are already collected for allergen verification.

As part of the pilot, FSIS plans to evaluate a shortened moving window for Salmonella performance standards.

Reoccurring, emerging, and persisting (REP) strains cause foodborne illnesses over extended periods of time, rather than through isolated outbreaks. The REP framework was jointly developed by CDC, FDA, and USDA-FSIS through the Interagency Foodborne Outbreak Response Collaboration.