Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team

Reintroduced to U.S. Congress on February 3, the Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act seeks to grant FDA the authority to collect microbial samples from concentrated animal feeding operations, also referred to as “factory farms,” during foodborne illness outbreak investigations.

The Tucson Environmental Justice Task Force has sued FDA for failing to act on a petition urging the agency to set limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in foods.

The UK Government is proposing the addition of several foodborne and waterborne viruses, bacteria, and parasites to the list of notifiable causative agents under the Health Protection Notification Regulations, for which laboratories testing human samples are required to report positive test results.

EU agencies are recommending actions the agriculture sector should take toward the more responsible use of azole-based fungicides, due to the risk of Aspergillus becoming azole-resistant, making treatment for human infections less effective.

Based on a recent analysis, WaterMagage4You is a free, online tool developed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to help industry predict and mitigate microbial contamination risks in process water for fresh, fresh-cut, and frozen produce. EFSA also published recommendations for fit-for-purpose process water management. 

Wenda Ingredients’ newest product, TasteNrich HyBind PR3, is a true phosphate replacer, designed to help naturally enhance the yield and texture of meat and poultry while supporting clean-label formulations.

A joint scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) includes recommended strategies for the food animal sector to prevent the spread of avian influenza and its transmission to humans.

The Trump Administration has fired 17 Inspectors General serving different federal agencies, including Phyllis K. Fong, J.D., who held the role of Inspector General at USDA. The Inspector Generals for HHS and EPA were also among those dismissed.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Lucy Angarita of GS1 US about the challenges of, and progress made toward, compliance with FSMA 204 as the January 2026 compliance date approaches. Lucy also discusses actionable steps for companies to advance their traceability journeys. 

Sara Brenner, M.D., M.P.H., a longtime FDA and federal government employee, has been appointed Acting Commissioner of the agency. She will lead the agency until the Senate confirms President Trump’s nomination for FDA Commissioner.