Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

SLIPNOT's Amstep Products portfolio has acquired the metal stair tread nosings line from Nystrom®. The metal stair tread nosings will strengthen Amstep's comprehensive portfolio of engineered slip-resistant solutions across industries throughout North America.

The bipartisan Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2026 would amend FDA's major food allergen labeling requirements to include barley, rye, and oats alongside wheat, in an effort to mitigate "hidden" exposure to gluten for consumers with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

Hydrogen peroxide treatment, followed by catalase enzyme application to remove residual peroxide, significantly reduced Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes on raw chicken wings while preserving the meat's overall color quality, although more research is needed on the effect on other organoleptic properties.

In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Dr. Mindy Brashears, Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Dr. Justin Ransom, Administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), about the future of food safety oversight at USDA. With Dr. Brashears, we discuss FSIS' emerging Salmonella SAFE Strategy and Salmonella Gold Standard, the agency's evolving approach to Listeria control, and the creation of a new scientific advisory panel. Dr. Ransom dives into how FSIS is using connected data, AI, and other emerging technologies to strengthen inspection and identify food safety risks earlier.

The Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz, M.D., J.D., M.P.H. as the new Director of CDC on August 5, making her the agency's first permanent leader in nearly a year. Dr. Schwartz previously served as Deputy Surgeon General during the first Trump administration and as Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard.

WECO's MXV-Bulk X-ray inspection system identifies and rejects a variety of product defects that show no obvious external signs including empty nut shells, insect damage, and internal mold. It also removes foreign material including stones, glass, ceramics, and embedded metal.

A new scientific review examines blue light-mediated photosensitization for antimicrobial intervention across various food sectors. The review notes the technology's promise as a nonthermal antimicrobial intervention for food safety and emphasizes the need for further studies to support scale-up across industry.

Two topics of increasing regulatory scrutiny—the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) rule and a federal definition of ultra-processed food (UPFs)—have seen some movement at the U.S. Government's Office of Management and Budget, signaling progress on the Trump administration's food policy agenda.
 

The fast-casual Mexican-style restaurant chain has pulled the jalapeños from its restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers, out of "an abundance of caution."

A new industry resource helps food processors compare X-ray inspection providers using technical capabilities, service offerings, and long-term value metrics.