Microbiological Control

Study Shows Promise of Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment for Poultry Decontamination

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Hydrogen peroxide treatment, followed by catalase enzyme application to remove residual peroxide, significantly reduced Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes on raw chicken wings while preserving the meat's overall color quality, although more research is needed on the effect on other organoleptic properties.

Scientific Review Evaluates Blue Light-Mediated Photosensitization Across Food Applications

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:58:00 -0400

A new scientific review examines blue light-mediated photosensitization for antimicrobial intervention across various food sectors. The review notes the technology's promise as a nonthermal antimicrobial intervention for food safety and emphasizes the need for further studies to support scale-up across industry.

Chipotle Identifies Potential Connection Between Salmonella Outbreak and Jalapeños

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:30:00 -0400

The fast-casual Mexican-style restaurant chain has pulled the jalapeños from its restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers, out of "an abundance of caution."

Study Identifies Optimal Poultry Transport Cage Washing Conditions to Reduce Salmonella

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Transport cages are recognized as a potential source of cross-contamination in poultry slaughterhouses. The optimal washing water temperature and detergent concentration completely eliminated detectable Salmonella while greatly reducing indicator organisms. The identified parameters may improve food safety and operational efficiency.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Shigella Vaccine Shows Promise in Phase 2 Clinical Trial

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

The vaccine provided 89 percent protection against S. sonnei infection compared with the placebo. Vaccinated participants also experienced less severe symptoms and lower levels of bacterial shedding. The vaccine is being developed as drug resistance among Shigella continues to increase.

FDA Analyzes 15 Years of Mycotoxin Monitoring Data, Finds Low OTA Prevalence

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The study represents the first publication of a large FDA dataset on ochratoxin A (OTA) occurrence in U.S. foods. OTA was detected above the limit of detection in 3.5 percent of all samples (which were targeted based on their susceptibility to contamination).

Food Safety at Sea: Why Norovirus Prevention Starts with Culture, Not Checklists

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Cruise ships are self-contained, complex ecosystems where pathogens like norovirus present a heightened risk to passengers. Highly contagious, environmentally persistent, and operationally disruptive, norovirus has long been the single greatest food safety challenge facing the cruise industry.

FDA Announces August Public Meeting on Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes Prevention

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:41:32 -0400

L. monocytogenes is the fourth-leading foodborne illness-related cause of death in the U.S. Despite continued efforts, listeriosis incidence rates have not declined, prompting FDA to launch a series of public engagements to discuss best practices for managing the pathogen.

Danish Researchers Propose Voluntary Labeling Scheme for Listeria-Stabilized RTE Foods

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The label claim “STABILIZED” would indicate that a ready-to-eat (RTE) product had been formulated or processed to inhibit Listeria monocytogenes growth. The researchers advocate for formulation and process changes as listeriosis rates climb in Europe and stricter EU Listeria regulations come into effect.

Foodborne Parasite Cyclospora Sickens Thousands Across U.S.

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:01:15 -0400

Cyclosporiasis is surging across the U.S., with CDC and state public health officials reporting a growing number of cases. Michigan alone has reported more than 1,200 Cyclospora infections since June, resulting in at least 44 hospitalizations.

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.

Food Safety Five Ep. 34: Scientific Advances Addressing C. botulinum in Food

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 05:30:00 -0400

This episode of Food Safety Five covers a novel detection method for Clostridium botulinum and a potential new processing approach to mitigate contamination, as well as growing discussion around how C. botulinum should be handled in infant formula manufacturing, spurred by recent botulism outbreaks.