Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

A recent study conducted by scientists from the Quadram Institute and the UK Health Security Agency has revealed that, despite cleaning, Listeria monocytogenes are able to persist in ready-to-eat (RTE) food production environments, supported by diverse bacterial populations that also remain stable over time.

Romer Labs has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (USDA’s FGIS) for its AgraStrip® Pro Ochratoxin A WATEX® test kit, which facilitates the quantitative determination of ochratoxin A in wheat.

University of Rochester scientists have successfully demonstrated the ability of a novel electrocatalysis method to remove a harmful and pervasive type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) from water.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) will be holding a hybrid stakeholder forum on June 20, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. The agency is also seeking public comment on two Food Standards Code amendments. 

Romer Labs has received Performance Tested Methods^SM (PTM) certification from the AOAC Research Institute for its quantitative AgraStrip® Pro Total Aflatoxin WATEX® test kit for corn and peanut paste.

ImagoAI’s Galaxy for Mycotoxins Test, which the company calls the “world’s fastest” with results provided in less than 30 seconds, has achieved Performance Tested Methods^SM (PTM) certification from AOAC International.

The People’s Republic of China has released 47 new or updated standards in the Chinese National Food Safety Standards. USDA has provided an unofficial English translation of the announcement about the changes to the Standards.

A new nonprofit organization called the Adult Beverage Alliance (ABA) has been formed in Massachusetts with the goal of advocating for responsible state-level regulation of drinks containing hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The Penn State Extension is offering two educational events for the food industry in April 2024: a free webinar on April 9 about third-party audits for dairy processors, and an in-person workshop on April 29 in Pennsylvania about small-scale commercial canning.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) has updated its guidance for calculating retained water in meat and poultry products. Establishments will have until September 30, 2024 to submit revised retained water protocols and until April 1, 2025, to make any necessary label changes.