Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

The recently updated Cost Estimates of Foodborne Illness data from USDA break down the total estimated cost of foodborne illnesses per case and per pathogen.

Sabert Corporation Europe has launched a line of fully home compostable and recyclable foodservice packaging that is free from intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and compliant with forthcoming EU sustainability regulations.

Amazon, Amerisan, the Meat Institute, Mérieux NutriSciences, and Yum! Brands have joined the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, a collaborative effort to advance food safety culture, prevent foodborne illness, and protect consumers.

In a new scientific opinion, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) spreading from U.S. dairy cattle to Europe is very low, but still stresses preparedness and heightened surveillance.

The proposed EU Food and Feed Safety Simplification Package targets "overlapping and disproportionate rules" that burden agri-food businesses and national authorities, covering plant protection, feed additives, official controls, and animal health. The package's pesticide deregulation measures have garnered criticism from environmental protection groups.

According to a report by the Swedish Food Agency, food fraud costs Swedish society an estimated $13.6 billion SEK (approximately $1.5 billion USD) annually. The agency is preparing upcoming government directives to implement measures to address the growing problem of food fraud.

Considering the infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, during which product was found on store shelves weeks after the recall was announced, FDA issued a letter to industry describing firms’ legal obligations in the case of a recall, as well as warning letters to four major retailers (Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons).

Previously serving as the Surgeon General of Louisiana and a U.S. Representative for the state of Louisiana, Ralph Abraham, M.D., D.V.M. has practiced both family and veterinary medicine throughout his career.

Researchers with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have demonstrated that the use of iron-fortified hemp biochar made from agricultural waste can significantly reduce the amount of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” taken up by food crops grown in contaminated soil.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published guidelines for reporting whole genome sequencing (WGS) data in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2025/179, which requires Member States to conduct WGS on the isolates of five important pathogens during the investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks and sets data-sharing parameters.