Chemical Control

Center for Food Safety Opposes Monsanto–Bayer Legal Efforts to Preempt State Pesticide Warnings

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:30:00 -0400

Arguing that states’ authority to require pesticide health warnings is critical to filling gaps in EPA oversight and risk communication, a coalition has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Monsanto v. Durnell, in which Monsanto (now Bayer), the maker of glyphosate-based Roundup, seeks to strike down that authority.

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.

EPA Addresses Microplastics, PFAS in Drinking Water; HHS to Study Microplastics in Humans

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0400

EPA has announced its sixth Contaminant Candidate List, which includes PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, disinfection byproducts, and other chemicals and microbes. Concurrently, HHS unveiled its Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP) initiative to address and understand microplastics in the human body.

EWG Publishes 2026 ‘Dirty Dozen’ List of ‘Pesticide-Contaminated’ Produce—but is it Scientifically Sound?

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The Environmental Working Group’s 2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce highlights PFAS pesticides for the first time. Although EWG recently updated its methodology, scientists argue it still does not consider key exposure science and risk assessment principles, therefore misleading consumers about the health risks of conventionally grown produce.

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.

Moringa Supply Chains Under Scrutiny: What Recent Contamination Cases Reveal About Botanical Ingredient Risks

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Recent contamination incidents involving moringa products draw attention to supply chain vulnerabilities that affect many botanical ingredients used in the global natural health industry. These events offer an opportunity to examine where problems can emerge and how companies can better protect consumer safety.

Report Raises Concerns About Microplastics, Chemicals Released by Microwavable Meals

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

A literature review conducted by Greenpeace concluded that heating food in plastic packaging—even ready-to-heat meals labeled as “microwave-safe” or “oven-safe”—may significantly increase the migration of microplastics and chemical additives into food.

Study Uses AI to Screen Milk Samples for Mycotoxin Contamination

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

The researchers positioned the machine learning model as a low-cost complement to traditional testing workflows, helping dairy processors enhance food safety while targeting laboratory resources.

Investigation Identifies More than 100 GRAS Ingredients Used in Foods Without FDA Notification

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:39:36 -0500

Of the 111 “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) additives identified by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), 49 are known to be widely used by food manufacturers.

Testing for Contaminants in Infant Formula Shows There are Many Safe Options

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:59:14 -0500

However, concerning levels of arsenic and lead were detected in some products, and Consumer Reports is therefore urging FDA to set limits for these metals in infant formula. PFAS were also found in more than a quarter of products.

Food Safety Five Ep. 27: The Problem With Florida’s Food Contaminant Testing Reports

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:30:17 -0500

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses expert perspectives on the Healthy Florida First food contaminant testing program, including information gaps about the testing and risk assessment methodology and why this missing information matters.

USDA-ARS Prototype Prevents Mycotoxin Accumulation During Malting of Barley

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Incorporating a novel “bio-fumigation” method based on a natural compound produced by mustard plants, the micro-malting machine effectively addresses mycotoxins while preserving quality. USDA is working with industry to scale the prototype for widespread adoption.

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.

EPA Rolls Back Mercury Emissions Standards with Implications for Fish Contamination

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:25:38 -0500

EPA repealed Biden-era amendments that had tightened emissions regulations under the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule. Critics warn that this decision could lead to greater bioaccumulation of the neurotoxin methylmercury in fish, increasing human dietary exposure.

California Bill Would Require State Food Additive Safety Reviews, Closing Federal ‘Loophole’

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:44:17 -0500

AB 2034 aims to tighten oversight of ingredients used in foods sold in the state that have entered the food supply without a formal FDA safety review through the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) process.

Ep. 212. Dr. Claire Sand: The Future of Food Packaging and Chemicals of Concern

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:30:00 -0500

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to food science and packaging expert Dr. Claire Sand about the regulatory, sustainability, and technical considerations for food companies regarding chemicals of concern in packaging, and what the future of food packaging might look like.

Trump Pushes for Greater Production of Controversial Herbicide Glyphosate

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:16:09 -0500

A presidential Executive Order invoked the Defense Production Act of 1950, asserting that glyphosate-based herbicides are critical to “national security.” MAHA supporters are pushing back on the order.

Study Highlights Differences in Acrylamide, Furan Formation During Cereal Processing

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:02:00 -0500

The findings emphasize the need for cereal manufacturers to optimize processing steps for each process contaminant, while also considering the effects on product quality.

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.

UK Study Detects Mycotoxins in 100 Percent of Analyzed Plant-Based Products

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:02:00 -0500

Although generally detected at low levels, mycotoxins were present in all plant-based meat alternative and beverage samples, suggesting that cumulative exposure may pose health concerns.

EU Report Raises Concerns About Increasingly Drug-Resistant Foodborne Bacteria

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:15:00 -0500

A high proportion of Campylobacter and Salmonella from food-producing animals across Europe are resistant to antimicrobials that are important to human medicine. Escherichia coli resistance to last-resort carbapenems is growing.

EU Maintains Current Stance on Safety of Sucralose After Reevaluation

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:15:00 -0500

EFSA conducted a safety reevaluation for the sweetener sucralose, resulting in no change to the acceptable daily intake (ADI). EFSA also considered a proposed extension for the use of sucralose in fine bakery wares, but was unable to determine its safety.

RFK Jr. Highlights FDA’s Focus on GRAS Rule, But Makes No Promises

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:49:00 -0500

In a recent 60 Minutes interview, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said FDA will address the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) “loophole,” which allows ingredients into the food supply without FDA review, while saying he does not plan to regulate ultra-processed foods.

NASEM Publishes Report to Guide USDA’s Response to PFAS in Agricultural Systems

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:05:00 -0500

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has published a report on PFAS in agricultural systems to help guide USDA's response to the impacts of agricultural lands polluted by these “forever chemicals.”

Court Files Injunction Against Texas Food Additive Warning Label Law

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:40:47 -0500

A request for a preliminary injunction filed by a coalition of food industry associations was granted by a Texas court against a provision thatwould require warning labels for food products containing certain additives.

EU Measures Public Awareness of Mercury in Seafood

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:28:53 -0500

An EFSA survey found that only one in ten respondents reported awareness about the health risks of seafood, and one-third of seafood consumers ate species high in mercury three or more times a week.

FAO Highlights Overlooked Role of Food Waste in Spread of AMR

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

A new review by FAO researchers identifies how food loss and waste (FLW) can disseminate antibiotic resistance (AMR), as well as practices that can either mitigate or exacerbate AMR dissemination from FLW.

Senate Bill Would Require Heavy Metals Testing, Disclosures for Protein Powders

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:10:26 -0500

Citing reports of contamination and a lack of federal oversight, California Senator Steve Padilla introduced SB 1033, which would require manufacturers of protein products to test their products for heavy metals and publicly disclose their findings.

EU Food Supply Remains Largely Compliant with Veterinary Drug Residue Limits

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Per EFSA’s latest annual report on veterinary drug residues in food-producing animals and their products, only 0.13 percent of samples were non-compliant in 2024.