Unlike allergen control programs, GMO control relies primarily on supplier verification and traceability rather than routine analytical testing. Survey findings reveal how food processors approach GMO control, while evolving traceability requirements could reshape testing practices and market demand in the coming years.
This episode covers the final findings from the U.S. Cyclospora outbreak, new USDA efforts to address Listeria, the new FDA Food Code, research on high-pressure processing for raw chicken, and emerging food safety concerns associated with plastic pollution.
FDA tested 195 samples in 2022–2025. No violations were identified among domestic samples, but 4.5 percent of imported samples showed evidence of economically motivated adulteration.
Designed for food and non-food applications, the Atlas pallet incorporates digital track-and-trace capabilities, which provide information on pallet location and inventory, as well as cold-chain monitoring.
Taylor Farms outlined actions it is taking to enhance food safety following the historic cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to its lettuce. The same day, Consumer Reports sent a letter to FDA requesting answers about why its outbreak response was “hindered by notable delays and a lack of transparency.”
Following the historically large cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce that swept the U.S. this summer, FAO highlighted the importance of pre-harvest water safety, sanitation, and hygiene to prevent microbial contamination of food in a new fact sheet resource.
Only 65 percent of U.S. adults said they were very or somewhat confident that food sold at most grocery stores is safe to eat. Confidence in the federal government's ability to ensure food safety also reached a new low, at 47 percent.
Under the draft policy, FDA would not enforce requirements for retailers and restaurants selling less than $1 million worth of food in a three-year period. FDA will also hold a public meeting to discuss potential flexibilities related to Traceability Lot Codes, Key Data Elements, and other issues.
This article explains how two-point testing against traceable temperature standards, supported by appropriate inspection, verification, calibration, and documentation practices, can help build a more accurate and audit-defensible temperature monitoring program.
FDA found Indonesia’s Cs-137 import certification program for shrimp and spices, launched because cesium-contaminated shipments of shrimp and spices were detected in the U.S., “substantially meets requirements” after the certifying entities corrected deficiencies identified through an in-country assessment.