The European Food Safety Authority published an updated scientific opinion on emerging and novel brominated flame retardants in food. Insufficient data prevented full risk assessments for most of the 27 chemicals evaluated.
The review also identifies six health effect categories for further evaluation as part of efforts to support the development of health-based values for the “forever chemicals.”
Patients have fallen ill in 17 states, with 26 hospitalizations. Laboratory, epidemiological, and traceback investigations point to eggs produced by Texas-based Midwest Poultry Services as the likely vehicle of illness.
At least 1,947 people infected with Cyclospora who had exposure to Taco Bell have been reported in nine states. Michigan and Ohio are together reporting more than 10,000 cyclosporiasis cases. FDA is investigating three other outbreak clusters.
The growing collection includes scientific publications and guidances on detection and viability methods, agricultural water monitoring and treatment, mitigation strategies, and the biology and epidemiology of the parasite.
The findings from a pre-competitive, industry–academia research collaboration provide a scientific foundation for discussions on quality standards and risk management in the plant-based dairy-alternative beverage sector.
A new publication from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined the growing presence of microplastics in the environment and the human body, highlighting ongoing scientific uncertainty about their health effects while outlining recent federal efforts to better understand and reduce exposure.
Developed by the University of New Hampshire and the University of Maine Extension with USDA-NIFA support, the peer-to-peer microlearning video series grew out of years of on-the-ground, individualized farm visits, hands-on technical assistance, and the trust that develops from working closely with a farmer.
Several senators have written letters to U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy urging Cyclospora surveillance to be restored to the FoodNet program. Experts say that FoodNet cuts, although problematic, did not cause the current outbreak.