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.

A new nonprofit organization called the Adult Beverage Alliance (ABA) has been formed in Massachusetts with the goal of advocating for responsible state-level regulation of drinks containing hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The cannabis industry is no exception to the potential risks of PFAS contamination, ranging from possible health and safety implications to a business' litigation risk.

This article discusses the work being done by the Federal Regulatory Framework (FRF) Working Group, a collaboration between the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS) and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), to advocate for and develop a comprehensive and relevant roadmap for the federal regulatory framework of cannabis-infused edibles and beverages to address critical challenges and enhance consumer confidence.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we are joined by Dr. Kathy Knutson, an author, food safety consultant, and educator for the cannabis industry. She discusses packaging, good manufacturing practices, training, and other considerations for ensuring the safety of cannabis-infused edibles and beverages, as well as the complicated patchwork of state regulations for cannabis and the potential for future federal regulation. We also hear from Dr. Hal King, the Editor of Food Safety Leadership in the Business of Food Safety, a new digital book published by Food Safety Magazine that serves as a resource for the retail foodservice industry. The book defines and models food safety business leadership from the perspective of top food safety business leaders at best-in-class retail foodservice operations.

Packaging and labeling of cannabis-infused edibles are unregulated at the federal level due to Cannabis remaining a Schedule I drug, therefore industry must comply with individual state codes and use international standards for guidance. Cannabis-infused edibles are packaged and labeled with all the familiar requirements for a food and dietary supplement, and further requirements must be met.

The Health Service Executive of Ireland’s National Social Inclusion Office has issued a warning about synthetic cannabinoids appearing in gummies and candies guised as Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) edibles.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we talk to Dr. David Acheson, President and CEO of food safety consultancy The Acheson Group, about a variety of pressing topics for the food industry, such as the declaration of Salmonella as an adulterant in poultry, Cannabis edibles regulations, compliance with the agricultural water rule, modernizing recalls, mitigating the risk of PFAS, and others. Dr. Acheson has a background in internal medicine and infectious diseases, and also served as the Chief Medical Officer at FDA’s CFSAN.

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) hosted a webinar on food safety legislation and policy trends on September 13, as part of its resource offerings for National Food Safety Education Month.

PathogenDx, a provider of molecular-based testing solutions, has received the industry’s first AOAC certification for detecting bacterial and fungal species in a single well test for cannabis matrices.