This episode of Food Safety Five discusses new research linking sorbitol to fatty liver disease, studies suggesting potential health risks associated with both “natural” and artificial color additives, and a major collection of papers examining the health impacts, policy, and marketing practices behind ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
The EU has implemented increased checks on certain food imports at the border, and has also introduced new certificate requirements for shipments of oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and other aquaculture products from the U.S. due to veterinary drug use restrictions.
As the agency continues to delay enforcement of Salmonella verification testing for not-ready-to-eat, breaded and stuffed chicken products, Consumer Reports is asking for evidence to support USDA-FSIS’ assertion that currently available test methods are not suitable, which contradicts the agency’s previous stance.
USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears, in collaboration with the Partnership for Food Safety Education, is calling on food safety educators nationwide to help dispel misinformation about the safety of the food supply amid the current New World Screwworm infestation.
Following the adoption of EU regulations in 2021 that set food safety culture requirements for food business operators, a European Commission survey conducted in 2025 showed that countries’ progress and approach toward culture official controls are varied, with significant difficulties reported.
Recognizing World Food Safety Day (WFSD) 2026 and the new estimates on the global burden of foodborne disease, WHO’s Elaine Borghi, Ph.D. discusses the development of the estimates and how they can be used to drive effective interventions that meaningfully improve food safety and public health.
The New York bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature, while the California bill advances from the Assembly to the Senate. The bills would require baby food and infant formula manufacturers to regularly test their products for toxic heavy metals and disclose results.
FDA did not identify deficiencies in ByHeart’s production facilities that could explain the outbreak, but a powdered milk ingredient did test positive for C. botulinum. ByHeart is developing an action plan based on data generated from the investigations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its anticipated updated global burden of foodborne disease estimates, which suggest that 42 microbiological and chemical hazards caused approximately 866 million illnesses and 1.52 million deaths in 2021.
The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that the number of Campylobacter and Salmonella infections in England remained high or increased in 2025, while listeriosis cases stayed stable from the previous year.
