Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

The French agency ANSES published the results of a two-year, national sampling and testing assignment for “forever chemicals” in drinking water, which was conducted to inform future monitoring strategies. Although most analyzed samples fell below regulatory limits for PFAS, TFA was found in 92 percent of samples.

As of December 2, laboratory-confirmed cases in the ongoing Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios has reached 155, and CFIA now requires importers and manufacturers of Iranian pistachios to hold and test their products for Salmonella before they can be sold. 

EVOCA, a new biofungicide from Biotalys, has received regulatory approval from EPA, and has also been exempted from maximum residue limits based on its safety profile.

To support Codex committee deliberations, an ad hoc joint FAO/WHO committee convened to recommend a gluten reference dose (RfD) in a risk-based precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) framework to ensure food safety for people with both celiac and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated wheat allergies.

The global trend toward natural and functional foods has fueled the popularity of edible flowers. To investigate the associated food safety risks, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review, and identified pyrrolizidine and tropane alkaloids as a significant concern.

The technology involves a surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensor integrated into stretchable and antimicrobial wrap. Potential applications span cold-chain logistics and storage, retail smart packaging, food safety monitoring, and meal kit delivery.

An ongoing outbreak of foodborne enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O45:H2 infections is sweeping Germany. More than 400 confirmed and possible cases have been reported, with three associated deaths. The vehicle of illness is likely foodborne, but has not yet been identified.

The European Commission recently published a dashboard that maps all food fraud cases covered in the Joint Research Center (JRC’s) monthly food fraud reports since 2016, including more than 2,000 cases and counting.

A study spanning 15 countries in five continents has revealed that free-range chicken eggs collected near waste sites contain “alarming” levels of toxic flame retardant chemicals. The authors call for stronger national policies and international guidance to protect vulnerable communities.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently published the results of three targeted sampling and testing assignments to determine the presence of Bisphenol A (BPA) and undeclared allergens in select foods at retail.