Management

FDA Says a Taco Bell Iceberg Lettuce Supplier is Source of Five-State Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 08:08:21 -0400

The outbreak cluster includes more than 1,600 people in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Outside of the outbreak cluster, Michigan and other parts of the U.S. continue to experience elevated rates of Cyclospora infections compared to previous years.

FAO/WHO Experts Recommend Updating Codex Powdered Infant Formula Guidance to Consider Clostridia, B. cereus

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

JEMRA convened in June to review the latest scientific evidence on microbiological hazards that have recently been associated with public health events due to the contamination of powdered infant formula or its ingredients.

Ep. 221. Dr. Alex LeBeau: The Science Behind Food Contaminant Testing

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to exposure scientist and toxicologist Dr. Alex LeBeau about the generation, interpretation, and responsible communication of food contaminant testing data—a conversation raised by recent reports on arsenic in candy from Florida officials.

Following Infant Formula Incidents, FDA Urges Manufacturers to Implement Stronger, Substantive Supplier Oversight

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:02:02 -0400

The letter to industry was issued in response to the botulism outbreaks linked to Nara Organics and ByHeart formulas, which identified Clostridia in the whole milk powder ingredient supply chain, as well as the global formula recall due to cereulide-contaminated arachidonic acid oil.

Opinion: Why the Infant Formula Industry Must Embrace Innovation, Not Fear It

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

An industry that feeds babies must be an industry of absolute transparency. We have nothing to hide, and everything to protect.

FPSA Launches Leadership Development Conference for Early- to Mid-Career Food Manufacturing Professionals

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:30:00 -0400

The inaugural “Cultivate: Leadership Growth Lab” will be held November 5–6, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky. The two-day, collaborative event is designed to meet the food production sector’s need for leadership development.

JECFA Evaluates Safety of Certain Food Additives; Monk Fruit Presents Potential Concern

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:15:00 -0400

The 102^nd meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) took place in June 2026 in Nanjing, China. Key outcomes included the establishment of new, temporary acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for two substances.

Codex Publishes Strategic Plan for 2026–2031

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:07:11 -0400

The plan establishes the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s priorities for the next six years to strengthen the development of international food safety and quality standards while considering evolving and emerging global challenges.

Nara Organics Formula Tests Positive for C. botulinum as Four Infants Hospitalized with Botulism

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:43:52 -0400

Four infants in three states have been hospitalized with botulism after consuming Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula. California public health officials have detected Clostridium botulinum in an open can of Nara Organics formula collected from the home of an outbreak patient.

Codex Adopts Internationally Harmonized Precautionary Allergen Labeling at CAC49

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:06:24 -0400

Other standards adopted during the 49^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49), taking place July 6–10 in Geneva, Switzerland, relate to controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in chicken and Listeria monocytogenes in RTE foods, revisions to food additive use levels, and more.

Data Culture as a Preventive Control

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

This article examines the importance of data culture—including data leadership, data literacy, data governance, data strategy, data access, and data communication—for supporting risk-based food safety systems.

Food Safety NEXT Executive Roundtable Examines AI Solutions for Supply Chain Risk Management

BlumeA@bnpmedia.com (Adrienne Blume, M.A.) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

At a Food Safety NEXT Industry Roundtable on June 25, senior business leaders came together to share, collaborate, and innovate meaningful improvements for supply chain risk management using enterprise AI. Food Safety Magazine is the exclusive media partner for Food Safety NEXT.

Allergens Remained Leading Cause of New Zealand Food Recalls in 2025

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) supported 57 consumer-level food recalls in 2025, a 35.2 percent decrease from the 88 recalls initiated in 2024.

Canadian Officials Caught More Than 150,000 Kilos of Fraudulent Food in 2024–2025

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA’s) 2024–2025 Food Fraud Annual Report, CFIA tested 886 food samples for authenticity and conducted 362 label verifications. Olive oil had the lowest authenticity compliance rate.

Foodborne Campylobacter, Listeria Infections Rose in Denmark in 2025

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

The Danish Annual Report on Zoonoses summarizes trends in foodborne disease, zoonotic pathogens, and surveillance activities across humans, animals, food, and the environment.

Experts Offer Global Food Systems Preparedness Framework for Nuclear, Radiological Accidents

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) recommendations were informed by lessons learned from the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi incidents, which demonstrated that radioactive contamination of food can have long-lasting public health and economic consequences.

Campylobacter is Ireland’s Highest-Burden Foodborne Pathogen

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:45:00 -0400

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published its first national risk ranking of microbiological foodborne hazards, which is intended to support risk-based food safety management by helping prioritize prevention, surveillance, and control efforts.

WHO Estimates Foodborne Parasites Caused 171 Million Illnesses Over 20 Years Globally

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Although the overall global burden has decreased, persistent and increasing burdens from specific foodborne parasites and in certain regions warrant continued public health attention.

Salmonella-Contaminated Instant Noodles Sicken Dozens of Children Across Europe

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:36:46 -0400

At least 106 people have been infected by the outbreak strain in 13 European countries. Young people are disproportionately affected. Some sickened children reported eating the noodles and seasoning dry, without adding boiling water as instructed on the package.

Insights on Artificial Intelligence Use in Food Safety

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

AI has moved into food safety programs faster than policies, procedures, and comfort levels can adapt. The gap between what organizations say and what people do regarding AI use is one of the most interesting—and potentially risky—signals from this Food Safety Insights survey.

EU Report on Food Safety Alerts Highlights Top Hazards, Major Incidents in 2025

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:38:50 -0400

The Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN), which enables EU Member States to exchange information and coordinate responses to food safety incidents, processed a record 10,490 notifications. Notable incidents included a Listeria outbreak linked to French cheese, Salmonella in Italian tomatoes, and cereulide in infant formula.

Salmonella-Tainted Alfalfa Sprouts Sicken 109 People in 11 European Countries, One Death Reported

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:12:55 -0400

Traceability investigations identified a common seed supplier, with implicated alfalfa seeds imported from India and distributed throughout Europe. Available evidence suggested the seeds were likely contaminated before entering the EU.

SafetyChain Expands Data Integration Tools for Food and Beverage Manufacturers

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:01:57 -0400

The new tools include a Documents API, a Record Attachments API, and Power BI Connector v3.1.0. The additions are intended to reduce manual data handling and improve information-sharing between SafetyChain and external platforms.

Foodborne Illness Deaths in Belgium Doubled in 2025

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Only six deaths were reported in 2024. The majority (nine) of the 12 fatalities in 2025 were included in one E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef served at long-term care facilities nationwide.

Building Food Safety Culture Through Real Skills on the Floor

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

When workforce capability receives limited attention, it raises broader questions about leadership commitment to protecting both employees and consumers. Building a strong food safety culture requires more than policies and audits; it requires sustained investment in the people responsible for providing safe food every day.

Infant Formula Brands Behind Botulism Outbreaks Used Same Organic Whole Milk Supplier

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:06:53 -0400

For a time, ByHeart Nutrition and Nara Organics both used Organic West milk dried by Dairy Farmers of America in their infant formula products (confirmed by Food Fix). Both brands have been implicated in botulism outbreaks that occurred within months of each other.

Ep. 220. Ramirez and Hodgson: What it Takes to Build and Maintain an Effective Food Safety Culture

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Fresca Foods’ Vice President of Operations, Miguel Ramirez, and former Fresca Foods FSQ Manager Madisen Hodgson, M.S. about cultivating a strong and effective food safety culture, including practical tips for measuring outcomes, driving continuous improvement, engaging frontline employees and leadership, and more.

Food Standards Scotland Study Identifies Factors Driving Foodborne Illness Risk Among Older Adults

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:28:13 -0400

Based on the findings, researchers recommended targeted food safety messaging for older adults that raises awareness of age-related susceptibility to foodborne illness and the potential severity of infection, and acknowledges the effects of health, financial, and environmental realities on food safety practices.

THAIFEX–ANUGA ASIA 2026 Records Continued Growth with Over 158,000 Visitors and THB 136 Billion in Trade Value

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Thailand achieved remarkable success of THAIFEX–ANUGA ASIA 2026, held from May 26–30 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok.

Beyond Detection: Putting Dietary Pesticide Residues into Risk Context

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article discusses toxicology and human exposure to pesticide residues in foods, including policy context and risk communication recommendations.