Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

The EU One Health Zoonoses Report for 2023 shows that foodborne illnesses are rising in the EU, with listeriosis cases reaching their highest levels since 2007. Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) caused the greatest number of illnesses in 2023.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the coordinator of the Safe Food Coalition, about CFA’s advocacy for stronger federal food safety regulation. We also discuss CFA’s perspectives on current food safety regulatory hot topics. 

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has published a response to feedback received on the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements (BMRs) v2024 stakeholder consultation.

After a second Listeria monocytogenes strain related to clinical isolates was discovered through environmental and product testing, the patient count in the foodborne illness outbreak linked to Yu Shang ready-to-eat meat and poultry products has risen to 19, including an additional infant death.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched its five-part National Milk Testing Strategy to monitor and address Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) in milk and dairy herds. A new Federal Order and accompanying guidance has been issued. 

TopBake Fresh and Taste, a new enzyme solution developed by DeutscheBack, enables targeted enzymatic flavor improvement of baked goods while helping to extend shelf life and reduce the use of emulsifiers and sugars in recipes.

The EU Joint Research Center (JRC) has developed new methods for detecting adulteration in six popular herbs and spices, as well as new reference materials to help identify fraudulent fish products.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has reported the arrest of five men in London after trucks full of allegedly illegal smoked meat carcasses were discovered. 

Companies W-Cycle Ltd. and Melhoramentos have joined forces to produce compostable food packaging made from renewable materials that naturally decompose within 100 days.

Hygiena has acquired Nexcor Food Safety Technologies, the creator of food industry sanitation and equipment maintenance software KLEANZ and CAMS-PM, and plans to integrate its SureTrend analytics platform into KLEANZ’s sanitation software.