WHO has released a set of updated manuals to help national authorities strengthen foodborne illness outbreak surveillance and response, contributing to faster and more reliable communication and response internationally (i.e., through INFOSAN).
An expert panel that was convened to support FDA’s “Operation Stork Speed” emphasizes the need for streamlined FDA approval processes for infant formulas, more transparent ingredient approval processes (i.e., GRAS, food additive petitions), and enforceable limits for environmental contaminants.
On January 1, three new EU reference laboratories for foodborne and waterborne diseases became officially operational, bringing the total number to nine. These laboratories will help national public health laboratories improve testing, data quality, and outbreak preparedness related to food- and waterborne pathogens.
At a public meeting on January 14 held by USDA-FSIS to discuss strategies for reducing salmonellosis attributable to poultry, a Consumer Reports food scientist argued for the agency to return to its now-withdrawn proposed regulatory framework for Salmonella in poultry.
Supported in part by USDA-NIFA, multidisciplinary researchers and Extension professionals from U.S. land-grant institutions have collaborated under the Enhancing Microbial Safety by Risk Analysis project, completing new research, helping inform policy, and providing education and outreach.
The UK-based Chilled Food Association (CFA) has produced an industry-led good practice guidance for manufacturers and retailers of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that may support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes to support compliance with UK and EU regulations on the microbiological criteria for foods.
Florida unveiled the Healthy Florida First initiative, a MAHA-aligned product contaminant testing effort, alongside the initiative's first report focused on the presence of toxic heavy metals in infant formulas. Several products had elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
By increasing the understanding of a molecular “weapon” used by the foodborne pathogen, the project, led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will support the development of new antimicrobials and vaccine targets to reduce transmission through the food chain.
According to a report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for USDA, 20,306 employees left the agency between January and June 2025. This does not include any attrition from the agency’s planned reorganization or the federal government shutdown.
Through the One Health lens, a scientific review summarized current knowledge on Salmonella biofilms, the importance of non-antibiotic interventions given the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), emerging alternative strategies with potential for real-world use, and challenges and needs moving forward.
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