In this year-end episode of Food Safety Matters, we round up the top stories of 2025, covering U.S. federal food safety policy changes under the Trump Administration, MAHA- and state-led moves against food additives of concern and ultra-processed foods, infant formula safety, science on Listeria and biofilms, ongoing monitoring of avian flu, and AI food safety applications.
On December 18, career food scientist and microbiologist Mindy Brashears, Ph.D. wasconfirmed by the Senate in a 53–42 vote for a second term as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, a role in which she will oversee USDA-FSIS.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses scientific recommendations around ultra-processed food (UPF) definitions and policy, a study demonstrating the antimicrobial efficacy of common sanitizers in potato wash water, and a review outlining the food safety risks of edible flowers. Also discussed are regulatory and standards developments in the U.S., EU, and at the international level.
The Food Safety Outreach Program is a grant program in which USDA-NIFA provides funding for food safety training and education for small and mid-sized producers and processors affected by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Following the withdrawal of the previously proposed strategy for reducing Salmonella in poultry, USDA-FSIS will host a public meeting on January 14 to advance work on a new approach, facilitating a discussion on “practical strategies” that “reflect both public health goals and industry realities.”
After withdrawing its previously proposed regulatory framework for Salmonella in raw poultry in April, USDA-FSIS is indefinitely delaying verification activities for Salmonella in not-ready-to-eat, breaded and stuffed chicken products, and is reconsidering its strategy to reduce Salmonella in poultry with an exploratory public meeting in January.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses research on Listeria biofilms, including sanitizer efficacy and evolutionary insights, and on a persisting Escherichia coli strain in leafy greens. It also covers regulatory developments in the UK, Canada, and the UAE, as well as a potential U.S. ultra-processed foods (UPFs) definition.
A new analysis of U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data conducted by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) quantified the impact of federal workforce cuts on experts and inspectors within USDA-FSIS and USDA-APHIS.
Despite increased regulatory efforts, Salmonella outbreaks linked to chicken remain a significant public health threat in the U.S., reaffirms a new study by CDC and USDA-FSIS researchers. The majority of outbreaks involved chicken parts and five serotypes of concern.
During an October 29 Senate confirmation hearing, Dr. Mindy Brashears, the presidential nominee for USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety, has provided insight into what her priorities will be if she is confirmed for the position—with Salmonella topping her list, followed by Listeria.
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