Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

Citing concerns that the Trump Administration could roll back or weaken Biden-era EPA drinking water standards for PFAS, a bill has been introduced in California that would set state-level limits for harmful “forever chemicals” that are at least as protective as current federal standards.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed changes to the Food Law Code of Practice and accompanying guidance. A public consultation is open until May 19, 2025.

The European Commission has published its new Vision for Agriculture and Food. Among other objectives, the Vision communicates the Commission’s goal of more strictly enforcing EU production standards for imported agri-food products, especially related to pesticide use and animal welfare.

Researchers from the Danish Technical University National Food Institute achieved an 80 percent reduction in Campylobacter in free-range chickens under real-world conditions by adding biochar to their feed.

The results of an FDA retail survey have been published, showing that pasteurization effectively inactivates avian influenza in dairy products other than milk, such as butter, ice cream, and cheese. USDA analyzed the samples collected by FDA.

The Alliance for Food and Farming has created an online tool that enables users to view the amount of produce a person would have to consume to experience health effects from pesticide residues.

Major public health, food industry, and consumer protection groups have stated concerns about the recent mass firing of FDA Human Foods Program staff and the resignation of Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones, expressing that layoffs could jeopardize food safety and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is facilitating the establishment of a Regional Food Safety Research Network and Innovation Hub (RFSRNIH) to improve food safety in Near Eastern and North African countries, addressing challenges specific to the region. 

Field studies led by Wageningen University have demonstrated the efficacy of two vaccines in reducing mortality in poultry infected with the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, although it is too early to draw accurate conclusions about transmission.

According to the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), adoption of the most recent version of the FDA Food Code is increasing across the country at a record rate, reflecting a prioritization toward food safety.