Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

In support of the development of a systematic post-market review process for chemicals in the U.S. food supply, FDA has published a new Expanded Decision Tree (EDT) chemical toxicity and risk screening tool, which will help prioritize chemicals for safety evaluation based on their structure and estimated toxicity.

Trump Administration appointee Trey Forsyth has been named Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at USDA, a role in which he will oversee USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS). He has expertise in agricultural policy, trade, and sustainability.

Effective August 4, 2025, FDA is changing its import entry review process for regulated goods from a geographic-based system to a national-based system. Industry must be aware of new communication protocols for the Nationalized Entry Review (NER) program.

A foodborne listeriosis outbreak in Ireland has sickened nine people and resulted in one death. Preliminary investigation results suggest the likely cause are ready-to-heat meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods, sold under a variety of brand names at major retailers. Recalls have been initiated in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

USDA-FSIS and AOAC International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the development, validation, and recognition of methods used by FSIS labs and regulated establishments for the verification of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) -based food safety systems.

FDA and CDC have closed their investigation into a Listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat products produced by Fresh and Ready Foods of San Fernando, California, announcing that one of the ten people who fell ill has died. 

In the third case involving the illegal sale of “smokie” meat in the UK within the last year alone, the UK Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit (FSA’s NFCU) has secured a confiscation order of more than £30,000 for the placing of unsafe food on the market.

NEMIS Technologies has unveiled new, rapid hygiene monitoring solutions for testing “on the go”—ATP GO and ATP GO Liquid—as well as NEMIS iNactivate, a microbe inactivation device for pathogen testing workflows. The company also opened a U.S. office in San Francisco, California. 

FDA and USDA are issuing a joint Request for Information (RFI) to gather information and data to help establish a federally recognized, uniform definition for ultra-processed foods.

FDA is applauding Consumer Brands Association’s (CBA’s) voluntary commitment to encourage U.S. food producers to remove artificial colorants from foods sold in schools by the start of the 2026–2027 school year. CBA said that, while these ingredients are “safe” and “supported by scientific evidence,” the food industry “recognizes preferences are evolving.”