COVID-19

FDA Withdraws COVID-Era Temporary Guidances for Onsite Visits Under FSMA

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:51:25 -0400

As COVID-19 no longer significantly impacts travel, FDA believes the temporary guidances are no longer relevant. The withdrawals will be effective on June 16, 2026.

FDA Issues Final Guidance for Industry on its Use of Remote Regulatory Assessments

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:43:45 -0400

FDA recently published a final guidance for industry to describe and answer questions about FDA’s use of remote regulatory assessments (RRAs) to oversee and assure compliance of FDA-regulated products, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FDA Extends Two COVID-19 Temporary Guidances Related to Onsite Visits Abroad Under FSMA

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:58:45 -0400

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reissued two temporary guidances originally published during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for certain regulatory requirements that involve onsite visits abroad under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Study Examines COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Foodborne Enteric Diseases in Canada

Tue, 16 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

A recent study aiming to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cases of foodborne enteric diseases in Canada found a considerable reduction in cases in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels.

FDA Temporary Flexibilities for Food Industry End as COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Expires

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:22:27 -0400

With the COVID-19 pandemic’s classification as a Public Health Emergency comes to an end, temporary flexibilities granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to aid the food industry through the pandemic are set to expire. FDA has also issued a guidance for industry intended to help qualified exempt farms subject to the Produce Safety Rule with transitioning away from the temporary allowances.

Foodborne Enteric Illnesses Decreased in Canada in 2020

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 15:47:16 -0400

In Canada, reported cases of foodborne illness caused by certain pathogens decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study.

How Food Manufacturers Have Responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic—Part 2

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Small food manufacturers, defined as those with less than 500 full-time employees, have experienced significant challenges to operate and supply food during the COVID-19 pandemic. To better support small manufacturers in Georgia, the University of Georgia Marine Extension and the Georgia Sea Grant conducted free, onsite COVID-19 assessments at seven seafood processing/distributing facilities through the first five months of 2021. Completed assessment reports and recommendations are summarized in this article. Manufacturers demonstrated remarkable adaptability to protect workers and avoid closing, despite supply shortages and continually changing public health guidance.

How Food Manufacturers Have Responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic—Part 1

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:25:09 -0500

Small food manufacturers have experienced significant challenges to operate and supply food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Free, onsite COVID-19 assessments conducted at seven seafood processing/distributing facilities through the first five months of 2021 revealed manufacturers' remarkable adaptability to protect workers and avoid closing, despite supply shortages and continually changing public health guidance.

The Future of Food Safety Microbiology Markets

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Advances in information technology, rapid advances in diagnostic sensitivity, and shifting regulatory requirements are changing the nature of food safety, while macroeconomic trends like globalization, competitive consolidation, and maturation of the industry are altering the structure of the markets. These trends are colliding with shorter-term disruptions like the economic recovery from COVID-19, inflation, and the war in Ukraine, making the near-term future difficult to see.

FSA: COVID-19 Virus Can Survive Days on Some Foods, Risk Still Very Low

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:47:02 -0500

After conducting new research on the survival of the COVID-19 virus on food and food packaging, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has determined that, while the likelihood of catching the virus from food varies by surface type, the risk is “very low” overall.

UGA Study Shows COVID-19 Virus Remains Infectious on Frozen Berries for Over a Month

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

A study led by University of Georgia (UGA) researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 can persist and remain infectious on the surface of frozen berries for at least 28 days.

Focusing Ahead—Processors' Priorities for the Near Term

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

With the COVID-19 pandemic (hopefully) solidly in the rearview mirror, we wanted to find out what projects and initiatives food companies are focusing on for the rest of this year and into 2023. We heard from more than 200 food processors in every major category. They reported a wide-ranging wish list of projects and priorities, with improving their food safety culture, more training, improving their supply chain management (especially with their foreign suppliers), and improving their sanitation and environmental monitoring programs at the top of the list.

Cold Foods Supply Chain May Spread COVID-19, Testing Methods Analyzed

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 11:20:00 -0400

A recent study suggests that the cold foods supply chain is the optimal environment for the COVID-19 virus to spread over long distances. The study explores various prevention and testing methods that could be used to mitigate the pathogen’s spread through cold-chain foods.

The Return to Normal—Ready to Travel Again?

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0400

As the issues related to COVID-19 continue to subside and more restrictions are lifted, will we see food companies return to business travel, including in-person meetings and food conferences? We asked more than 250 companies about their travel plans for 2022 and beyond to find out. Our survey found a wide variety of policies depending on the company, the location of the travel, and the purpose of the trip.

COVID-19, the Food Supply, and Cybersecurity: Coalescing Concerns

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupted the food supply. This article seeks to explain the transcendent lessons of this national emergency, with the hope that being aware of them will help national decision-makers better prepare for next time. Our food systems, like the larger supply chain, will be challenged in the future with new kinds of disruptions, making it essential that mistakes are not repeated and that proactive, correct solutions are discovered and preparations made now.

Supply Chain Woes – What is At Stake, and What Will Change?

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0500

Supply chain is critical to any food safety program. Having full control and traceability of raw materials and end products is no longer an option, but rather a requirement. In the past two years, the pandemic has exposed new weaknesses and made visible the business risks posed by an unstable supply chain.

Food Safety Insights: 5 Years Later, Part 2

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0400

In our last column, we revisited some of the testing-related topics we have covered since the inception of Food Safety Insights. This article looks at a few of the other subjects that have made an impact on our markets in these past 5 years.

What We Learned from COVID-19 Infections in Meat and Poultry Workers

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0400

The meat and poultry industry faced unprecedented disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, as employees worked in tight quarters on production lines, making it especially vulnerable. What is the current state of knowledge of the risk factors for such workers?

FDA: Update on Standard Operations for Domestic Inspections

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

As the U.S. emerges cautiously from the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is resuming standard operations for domestic inspections while continuing mission-critical work abroad.

Effects of the Pandemic on Personal Hygiene Practices: What’s Next?

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 22:07:50 -0400

Personal hygiene has long been a pillar of food safety. The pandemic not only created massive global awareness campaigns for handwashing but also provided food safety practitioners a platform for driving hygienic practices as the simple yet undisputed foundation of public health.

Testing to Continue to Increase in 2021

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:00:48 -0400

As food processors continue to recover from 2020, we wanted to find out more about their plans for 2021. One thing was clear: Testing—especially environmental monitoring—will continue to grow at a rapid pace.

An Opportunity to Reimagine: How the Pandemic Can Improve Our Global Food System

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 10:25:07 -0400

More than a year after the start of the coronavirus pandemic forever changed our way of life and further strained our food system, we face greater challenges as a result of new vulnerabilities that have arisen.

The Nexus of COVID-19 and Food Safety

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:01:00 -0500

Is coronavirus transmission by food or food packaging a valid concern? Here’s what we know and what we should be doing in the current absence of clear causality.

2021: What Changes of the Past Year Are Likely to Stick?

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We convened a select group from our Editorial Advisory Board to tell us what they think 2021 may have in store for us and some thoughts—and maybe predictions—on what we may or may not see in the next 2–5 years.

COVID-19 and Views on Food Safety

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 01:00:00 -0500

The coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic has impacted the attitudes of consumers towards food safety despite the lack of evidence that food or food packaging is a source of coronavirus infections.

An International Perspective on the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Supply Chains

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0500

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the world’s global food supply chain and the stakeholders involved.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Safety Risks and Recalls

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0500

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically disrupted the typical number of food safety-related recalls. What will this mean moving forward?

SARS-CoV-2 and the Risk to Food Safety

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Does the novel coronavirus pose a risk to food safety? The experts weigh in.

Food Supply Chains and COVID-19: Impacts

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:06:00 -0400

What are the impacts of COVID-19 on the food supply chain?

From Crisis to Culture: Moving from COVID Crisis Response to Implementing a “COVID-19 Culture”

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:02:00 -0400

Our new normal necessitates having a “COVID-19 culture,” akin to the foundation laid by food safety culture principles.