Contamination Control

Get Ahead of Spoilage in Food Manufacturing with Metagenomics for Preventive Monitoring

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Spoilage microorganisms present an important and complex challenge for food manufacturers, affecting production processes, product quality, retailer relationships, consumer satisfaction, food loss and waste, and ultimately, the bottom line.

England Saw 2,500 STEC Cases in 2025, Holding Steady with Previous Year

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:58:20 -0400

UKHSA said the relatively stable number of STEC notifications in 2025 marked a departure from the steady annual increases observed since 2021, when larger outbreaks contributed substantially to case counts.

FDA's Allergen Agenda Is Expanding: Thresholds, Gluten Cross-Contact, and What Food Companies Should Watch for Next

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Companies making products containing allergens should pay close attention: FDA's approach to allergen regulation is actively evolving.

Researchers Propose Listeria Biofilm Colonization Hypothesis to Explain Persistence in Food Processing Plants

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:24:53 -0400

A new hypothesis suggests Listeria monocytogenes persists by colonizing nutrient-rich voids left behind when Gram-negative bacterial biofilms disperse. If the theory is validated, the authors suggest shifting food safety strategies toward managing biofilm ecology and ecological succession, rather than focusing solely on pathogen detection.

Ep. 222. Elena Medo: Food Safety Lessons From the Global Infant Formula Cereulide Recall

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:30:00 -0400

Following the global infant formula recall linked to cereulide contamination, Elena Medo discusses vulnerabilities in infant formula supply chains, infant-specific food safety risks, surveillance gaps, donor milk safety, and the lessons regulators and manufacturers can take away from this unprecedented event.

EFSA Cites Significant Data Gaps in Risk Assessment for Emerging Brominated Flame Retardants in Food

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:47:36 -0400

The European Food Safety Authority published an updated scientific opinion on emerging and novel brominated flame retardants in food. Insufficient data prevented full risk assessments for most of the 27 chemicals evaluated.

WHO Identifies 18 Priority PFAS for Future Health Assessment Based on Dietary Exposure

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:49:01 -0400

The review also identifies six health effect categories for further evaluation as part of efforts to support the development of health-based values for the “forever chemicals.”

Taylor Farms Lettuce Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Expands to Nine States; CDC Reports Nearly 2,000 Cases, State Counts Exceed 10,000

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:47:50 -0400

At least 1,947 people infected with Cyclospora who had exposure to Taco Bell have been reported in nine states. Michigan and Ohio are together reporting more than 10,000 cyclosporiasis cases. FDA is investigating three other outbreak clusters.

Center for Produce Safety Releases Cyclospora Resources for Industry

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:42:12 -0400

The growing collection includes scientific publications and guidances on detection and viability methods, agricultural water monitoring and treatment, mitigation strategies, and the biology and epidemiology of the parasite.

Research Collaboration Produces Guidance for Controlling Spore-Forming Bacteria in Plant-Based Beverage Ingredients

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:23:31 -0400

The findings from a pre-competitive, industry–academia research collaboration provide a scientific foundation for discussions on quality standards and risk management in the plant-based dairy-alternative beverage sector.

GAO Examines Microplastics Sources, Health Concerns, and Policy Challenges

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:05:05 -0400

A new publication from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined the growing presence of microplastics in the environment and the human body, highlighting ongoing scientific uncertainty about their health effects while outlining recent federal efforts to better understand and reduce exposure.

Experts Set Record Straight on FoodNet, CDC Cuts as Senators Press RFK Jr. for Answers Amid Cyclospora Outbreak

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:40:08 -0400

Several senators have written letters to U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy urging Cyclospora surveillance to be restored to the FoodNet program. Experts say that FoodNet cuts, although problematic, did not cause the current outbreak.

EU Lowers Safe Level of Exposure to TFA, a PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ in Water, Food

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:07:04 -0400

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) lowered the acceptable daily intake for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to a quarter of the previously established level, and also set an acute reference dose for the chemical for the first time.

Michigan, Ohio Together Report More than 9,000 Cyclosporiasis Cases; CDC Outbreak Count Exceeds 4,000

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:16:59 -0400

By the same time last year, CDC had only reported 249 confirmed, domestically acquired Cyclospora infections across the entire U.S. States’ reports may include both probable and confirmed cases.

Another Study Suggests Plastic Particles Strengthen E. coli Biofilms; Researchers Underline Drinking Water Safety Implications

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:57:37 -0400

Adding to a growing body of evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may enhance the virulence and persistence of pathogens in food and the environment, a new study found that nanoplastics may strengthen E. coli biofilms in drinking water systems and increase resistance to chlorine treatment.

Food Safety Five Ep. 35: Produce Safety Science and Small Growers’ Perspectives

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

This episode of Food Safety Five highlights new research on cold storage practices for fresh-cut produce, food safety perspectives among small-scale produce growers exempt from FDA's FSMA Produce Safety Rule, and water management strategies that reduce arsenic in rice.

NomadX: Preventing Food Safety Crises—A New Approach to Detection, Decontamination, and Intervention

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to NomadX CEO Lyle Probst about developments in pathogen detection, artificial intelligence, and industry mindsets are shaping the future of food safety management and incident response.

Taylor Farms Lettuce Named as Source of U.S. Cyclospora Outbreak

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:19:56 -0400

Between 1,600 and 5,000 people are sick in a five-state cyclosporiasis outbreak, according to CDC and Michigan officials. Iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms of Mexico to companies like Taco Bell and Walmart has been identified as the vehicle of infection. FDA has rescinded a previous positive product sample finding.

Mettler Toledo Launches AI-Enabled X-Ray Inspection System for Packaged Foods

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:52:25 -0400

The X56 DXD+ is a dual-energy photon-counting X-ray inspection system designed for improved detection of low-density physical contaminants in complex packaged food applications.

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.

How the U.S. Cyclospora Outbreak Reflects a Strained National Foodborne Illness Surveillance System

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:51:21 -0400

Public health experts say the ongoing cyclosporiasis situation exposes growing weaknesses in national foodborne illness surveillance, highlighting how funding and program cuts and CDC staff attrition could undermine outbreak detection and delay response, affecting public health communication and consumer confidence in food safety.

CDC Reports Up to 7,000 Cyclosporiasis Cases Across U.S., Identifies Large Midwestern Outbreak Cluster

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:57:35 -0400

More than 400 cases in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia appear to be epidemiologically linked, although a food source has not been confirmed. Michigan alone reports more than 3,300 Cyclospora infections.

Study: E. coli in Lettuce Growing Environment Have Stress Adaptation Traits Enabling Farm-to-Fork Persistence

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The co-occurrence of biofilm formation, acid tolerance, and antimicrobial resistance genes in E. coli isolated from irrigation water, soil, and crops could complicate downstream microbial control efforts in produce production systems.

USDA, HHS, EPA Reaffirm Collaboration to Tackle Chemical Contaminants in Food

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:41 -0400

The Memorandum of Understanding expands interagency collaboration on food contaminant monitoring, including for toxic heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), under the National Residue Program.

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.

USDA-FSIS to Expand Testing for Metals in RTE Foods Under National Residue Program

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:49:27 -0400

Effective July 20, to support risk surveillance, the agency will perform metals analysis on samples that are already collected for allergen verification.

Cyclospora Cases Climb, But Actual Number Unclear as CDC Reporting Lags Behind States

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:21:08 -0400

Per CDC, 843 domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases have been confirmed in 31 states, plus another 1,500 pending analysis. Michigan alone has reported more than 2,600 cases and is looking at lettuce as a potential vehicle of illness.

Consumer Reports Finds Inorganic Arsenic in All Rice Tested; Calls on FDA to Set Limits

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:15:43 -0400

The investigation analyzed 142 samples representing 52 rice products. Notably, 17 products contained average inorganic arsenic concentrations of at least 100 parts per billion. Rice type significantly influenced average concentrations.

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.