Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

“NSF Certification Guideline 537: PFAS-Free Products for Nonfood Compounds and Food Equipment Materials” (NSF 537) is a new certification for suppliers of food equipment materials, nonfood compounds, and chemicals to distinguish their products as free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS).

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Phil Kafarakis, President and CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, about traceability, training, lessons learned from foodborne illness outbreaks, and other topics related to the foodservice sector.

Mississippi has become the third U.S. state to ban cell-based food products with the passage of House Bill 1006. As of July 1, 2025, it will be illegal to sell or distribute any cultivated food product in the state.

Researchers from the University of Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology have described the role that cognitive and cultural biases play in the design and execution of food safety management systems and stakeholders’ perceptions of what “safe enough” means.

ReposiTrak has expanded the capabilities of the ReposiTrak Traceability Network with the new “Traceability for Everyone” feature, which enables suppliers to share traceability data for any customer.

Created for ease of reference and to help industry market products that are safe for consumers, FDA’s new Chemical Contaminants Transparency tool is an online, searchable database of consolidated contaminant levels (e.g., tolerances, action levels, and guidance levels).

FAO has published a summary of an expert meeting on foodborne toxigenic clostridia (i.e., Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridioides difficile), characterizing their relevant food safety aspects, describing control measures, and identifying knowledge gaps and research needs.

California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel has introduced a bill that aims to define and identify “ultra-processed foods” so that they can be phased out of state public schools.

Trustwell has added Canadian Front-of-Pack labeling capabilities to its Genesis Foods software to help food producers ensure compliance with new regulations.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is investigating a listeriosis outbreak involving five illnesses and three deaths. Desserts served at healthcare facilities are being considered as the potential vehicle of illness. The desserts tested positive for low levels of Listeria monocytogenes, but have not been confirmed as the source of the outbreak.