Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

Current food safety oversight is spread across multiple federal, state, and local agencies, which Cotton says decreases efficacy, creates gaps, and slows response times to potential public health risks.

In the first of this two-part episode of Food Safety Matters, we interviewed professionals from academia, consumer advocacy, and foodservice, live from the show floor of the Food Safety Summit, which took place on May 12–15 in Rosemont, Illinois. We discussed leadership, food additives, leveraging AI for food safety, and more.

According to FDA, between 2018 and 2025, 42 people were sickened and 14 died across 21 states after consuming Listeria monocytogenes-contaminated Sysco Imperial and Lyons ReadyCare Frozen Supplemental Shakes that were served at long-term care facilities and hospitals. 

Tests of 145 rice samples from retailers nationwide—including U.S.-grown and imported varieties—reveal that rice sold in the United States remains widely contaminated with arsenic.

Consumer purchase records were successfully used for hypothesis generation in the outbreak investigation and provided a critical foundation for traceback activities.

FDA notes that, until now, it has conducted post-market reviews on a case-by-case basis, often in response to citizen petitions or new scientific evidence. FDA says the new framework will be more proactive.

New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh, lead Senate sponsor of the legislation, says a key aim of the bill is to address major loopholes in federal food regulation.

Letter to Congressional leaders warns that further workforce reductions could jeopardize USDA’s ability to protect the nation’s food supply.

EFSA analyzed thousands of samples collected in 2023 from commonly consumed products. Maximum residue levels (MRLs) were exceeded in 2 percent of samples, of which 1 percent were non-compliant after taking into account the measurement uncertainty.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Christian Ararat, a seasoned food safety and quality professional with a global perspective, about a range of topics, including auditing, traceability, certifications, exporting to the U.S., and artificial intelligence (AI). We also hear from Joseph Corby, the recipient of Food Safety Magazine’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award, about his illustrious career and advocacy work.