International

WFSD 2026: Exclusive WHO Interview on New Global Foodborne Disease Estimates

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:45:00 -0400

Recognizing World Food Safety Day (WFSD) 2026 and the new estimates on the global burden of foodborne disease, WHO’s Elaine Borghi, Ph.D. discusses the development of the estimates and how they can be used to drive effective interventions that meaningfully improve food safety and public health.

Ep. 219: World Food Safety Day 2026

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to WHO’s Dr. Elaine Borghi about the new global foodborne disease burden estimates, updates to the methodology, key insights from the data, and the importance of using data to target food safety interventions, aligning with the WFSD theme “From Burden to Solutions—Safe Food Everywhere.”

Global Foodborne Disease Burden Comparable to Malaria, Per Updated WHO Estimates

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:29:14 -0400

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its anticipated updated global burden of foodborne disease estimates, which suggest that 42 microbiological and chemical hazards caused approximately 866 million illnesses and 1.52 million deaths in 2021.

WHO Releases Data on the Proportion of Microbiological, Chemical Hazards that are Foodborne

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:04:39 -0400

The study was conducted to support the development of new global burden of foodborne disease estimates, which are going to be released on June 4, ahead of World Food Safety Day.

Asia Food Safety Forum 2026: Digitalization, Innovation, and Circularity in Food Safety

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Organized by UNIDO, the Asia Food Safety Forum will take place June 11–12, 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, fostering dialogue, promoting innovation, and strengthening regional cooperation to support safer, more sustainable, and more competitive food systems across the region.

FAO, WHO Launch New Resources Ahead of World Food Safety Day

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:58:40 -0400

Ahead of World Food Safety Day, FAO and WHO have introduced a Food Safety Roadmap Development Tool and an online learning course on Codex-aligned risk assessments, supporting competent authorities and other stakeholders seeking to utilize science and data to improve national food safety systems.

Africa, Near East Countries Collaborate to Advance Food Safety Competencies

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:16:31 -0400

FAO, WHO, and the Codex Coordinating Committees for Africa and the Near East led a training with more than 350 participants from the Africa, Near East, and Eastern Mediterranean regions, focused on participation in Codex standard-setting work.

Codex Moves to Adopt Standardized Precautionary Allergen Labeling, Kicks UPFs Can Down the Road

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:22:46 -0400

During the 49^th Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL49), guidelines on risk-based precautionary allergen labeling, labeling for multipack foods, and emergency flexible labeling were recommended for adoption. CCFL also declined a proposal to initiate work related to ultra-processed foods.

SecureFood School: Transforming Food System Risk Science into Real-World Education

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Strengthening food system resilience requires not only technological innovation, but also an improved societal understanding of food system dynamics and risks.

WHO Estimates a $46 Return for Every $1 Investment in National Foodborne Disease Surveillance

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Improvements in national food safety infrastructure by the 17 countries included in the analysis would cost an estimated $492 million USD over ten years, but would avert 19 million cases of foodborne illness and 13,000 associated deaths, generating a value of $23 billion.

Stakeholders Say Codex Emergency Food Labeling Provisions Could Compromise Infant Formula Safety

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:16:45 -0400

At the upcoming 49^th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL49), CCFL will consider draft guidelines on applying food labeling provisions during emergencies. Infant and maternal health groups oppose these guidelines, saying they could harm vulnerable populations.

40 Sick, One Dead in German Salmonella Outbreak Involving Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:05:22 -0400

The outbreak strain of Salmonella Bochum is extremely rare. Children and adolescents aged 2–15 years represent 75 percent of outbreak patients. Patient interviews and a case-control study point to a certain brand of chocolate-hazelnut spread as the vehicle of illness.

THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA 2026: The Leading Sourcing Platform for Plant-Based Proteins & Alternative Foods

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The growing global focus on health and wellness has reshaped the way consumers choose food. Beyond taste and nutritional value, greater importance is now placed on the origin of ingredients, production methods, and environmental impact.

Ep. 215. Stalker and Terada: Aligning Culture, Risk, and Operations at the Food Safety Summit

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

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to two industry leaders and Food Safety Summit Editorial Advisory Board members about managing food safety programs across large-scale, global operations; upcoming Summit sessions on imported food safety risks and food safety culture; and advice for early-career food safety professionals.

Codex Committee Advances Work on Standards for Veterinary Drug Residues in Food

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

The 28^th session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods made advances related to maximum residue limits (MRLs), extrapolation approaches, and risk management guidance, with several measures forwarded to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption.

Huub Lelieveld Awarded 2026 World Food Prize for Global Food Safety Leadership

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:48:51 -0400

With a six-decade career that includes founding the Global Harmonization Initiative, Mr. Lelieveld was formerly a longtime member of Food Safety Magazine's (FSM’s) Editorial Advisory Board and a past recipient of the FSM Distinguished Service Award.

FAO/WHO Experts Evaluate Omics Technologies for Microbiological Risk Assessment

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:15:00 -0400

A JEMRA meeting was convened to help inform discussions about potential updates to Codex Alimentarius guidance, reflecting how scientific advances could strengthen microbiological risk assessments for food safety.

Ep. 214. Chris McGarvey: UK/EU Food Regulatory Changes on the Horizon

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to UK food law expert Chris McGarvey about the implications of dynamic UK/EU regulatory trends and how businesses can navigate changing legislation related to trade, food substances, novel foods and technologies, and allergen labeling.

144 Illnesses Potentially Linked to Global Cereulide-Contaminated Infant Formula Incident, WHO Reports

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:28:43 -0400

WHO assessed the overall public health risk as “moderate,” citing the vulnerability of infants, uncertainty around the extent of contamination, and gaps in surveillance and traceability.

FAO, WHO Request Data on Microbial Food Safety Impacts of Frozen Storage Temperatures

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:21:53 -0400

The information gathered will be used to support FAO/WHO scientific advice intended to inform future Codex Alimentarius discussions on frozen food handling guidance.

Fatal Listeriosis Outbreak in France Linked to RTE Meats

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:49:09 -0400

Ready-to-eat (RTE) pâté en croute contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and produced by Drôme Ardèche Tradition has sickened 12 people across France, resulting in two deaths. All patients were hospitalized.

U.S. CDC Supports Moldova’s First Use of WGS in Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Marking the country’s first use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in an active foodborne illness outbreak investigation, advanced genomics enabled Moldovan authorities to rapidly solve and respond to a salmonellosis outbreak that sickened more than 140 people in 2025.

UK-EU Trade Agreement Would Harmonize Certain Food Safety Rules by Mid-2027

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:52:41 -0400

UK businesses will be required to align with relevant EU regulatory requirements within the scope of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, regardless of whether they export to the EU or sell only to the UK market.

EU Launches AI Traceability Platform to Strengthen Detection of Food Fraud, Safety Risks

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:08:06 -0400

TraceMap supports national authorities in identifying food safety threats and improving EU-wide coordinated response. A pilot version of TraceMap was recently used to support the investigation of globally distributed cereulide-contaminated infant formula.

World Food Safety Day 2026 to Coincide with Release of Updated WHO Foodborne Disease Burden Estimates

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:33:27 -0400

The theme, “From Burden to Solutions—Safe Food Everywhere,” stresses the role of evidence-based action, promoting the forthcoming updated WHO global foodborne disease estimates as a data source to inform targeted food safety and public health interventions.

EU Report Outlines Food Chemical Risk Assessment Data Gaps

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

With the goal of supporting stronger risk assessments to address emerging food chemical risks, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed existing data sources; data gaps and challenges; and recommendations for improving data availability, quality, and interoperability.

French Food Safety Agency Releases New Total Diet Study Results

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:54:11 -0500

The first set of results focuses on acrylamide and certain toxic heavy metals. Although the levels of some contaminants in food are decreasing overall, the population's exposure still remains concerningly high.

Learnings from UK Drug-Resistant E. coli Outbreak that Gave 19 Kids HUS

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:15:06 -0500

The STEC O26:H11 outbreak sickened 40 people and resulted in 19 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children. Dried fruit was the probable vehicle of illness. Researchers underlined the importance of a weight-of-evidence approach in the outbreak investigation.

FAO, EFSA Sign MOU to Strengthen Collaboration on Science-Based Food Safety

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:16:28 -0500

The three-year partnership will focus on driving food safety, sustainability, and resiliency, aligned with One Health principles, by leveraging advanced technological tools and science.

EFSA Reviews Cereulide Infant Formula Incident, Says Likelihood of Exposure is Low

editorhal@sbcglobal.net (Hallie Forcinio) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:21:21 -0500

Amid the ongoing global infant formula recall due to possible cereulide contamination, some countries have reported cases of mostly mild gastrointestinal illness in infants who had consumed infant formula, but confirming cereulide exposure is a challenge.