Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

USDA-FSIS has named Robert Bane as the new Deputy Administrator of Field Operations, who will serve alongside Deputy Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen in the Office of the Administrator. FSIS also announced several other appointments in different offices.

INNEO is a peptide-based antimicrobial processing aid. USDA’s No Objection Letter enables U.S. meat and poultry processors to use INNEO both as a surface treatment and directly within the food matrix of comminuted products. 

A report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) assessed FDA’s completion of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and identified several areas requiring more work, such as FSMA 204 implementation, certain Produce Safety Rule and Preventive Controls guidances, and required assessments.

The European Commission has published a revised guidance document on monitoring and shelf-life studies for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in compliance with recent amendments to Regulation (EU) 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria for foods.

The Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) is now accepting applications for its 2026 Emerging Leaders Award to recognize excellence in food safety and nutrition sciences.

Allergen Alert is a portable device that automates the full laboratory analytical process in a “mini lab” so that consumers and foodservice professionals alike can detect the presence of allergens or gluten in a meal, onsite and in minutes, ensuring food safety for those with food allergies and celiac disease.

A new study estimates the annual cost of foodborne illness in Australia from six important pathogens to be $721 million AUD, with nearly half of this cost ($328 million AUD) attributed to poultry sources.

FAO and WHO recently published a report identifying and prioritizing chemical contaminants that pose a food safety risk due to their presence in sources of water used in agri-food systems.

FAO recently published a report and conducted a webinar on the use of advanced technologies like AI to transform traditional approaches to food safety foresight, providing both public and private perspectives, and emphasizing the importance of expert human oversight and cross-sector collaboration.

As in years past, USDA’s Pesticide Data Program reports that more than 99 percent of foods sampled in 2024 were compliant with EPA pesticide residue limits. Some persistent organic pollutants, like DDT, continue to show up in crops.