This article focuses on one of the three branches within the newly created U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Human Foods Program—the Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation—and its potential impact on food packaging.

FDA’s Final Food Traceability Rule is driving necessary changes to the U.S.’s currently limited traceability system. Industry must continue to build upon the progress it has already made to move the nation toward a harmonized, interoperable traceability system.

Food safety is paramount in the production process, and crucial for protecting consumers from health risks associated with allergens and contaminants.

In the first of this two-part episode of Food Safety Matters, we interviewed professionals from the industry, regulatory, and nonprofit sectors, live from the show floor of the Food Safety Summit, which took place on May 6–9 in Rosemont, Illinois. We discussed food safety culture, food safety regulation for cannabis-infused edibles, traceability, legacy facilities and equipment, and more.

Traceability for Better Supply Chain Visibility and Regulatory Adherence helps you understand how to achieve January 2026 compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Food Traceability Final Rule—also known as FSMA 204—regardless of how far along your company is in its traceability journey.

Eliminating redundancies, increasing efficiency, and cultivating a culture of collaboration were the main themes of a January 19 webinar featuring top U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials, hosted by Alliance for a Stronger FDA to discuss the agency’s proposed reorganization.

Namandjé N. Bumpus, Ph.D., current Chief Scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will become the next FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner when Janet Woodcock, M.D. retires in early 2024. One of Dr. Bumpus' main priorities is to assist in the proposed reorganization of a unified Human Foods Program, including creating a new model for the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA).

The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC)—a joint effort between FDA, CDC, and USDA-FSIS—has published its 2021 report on foodborne illness source attribution for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes.

As of November 16, 2023, there are 34 known cases of acute lead toxicity linked to recalled fruit puree pouches in the U.S. FDA has alluded to an unconfirmed theory that the common source of contamination may be an imported ingredient used in the products.

On November 13, 2023, the Alliance for a Stronger FDA hosted a webinar with James "Jim" Jones, the recently appointed Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), during which he discussed his priorities, plans, and approach to change at the agency. He provided expected timelines for specific initiatives, such as finalization of the Agricultural Water Rule and an officialized outline of the new Human Foods Program.