Chemical Testing & Analysis

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.

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.

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.

The 4.0 ppt Era: Future-Proofing Your Food Supply Chain Against 'Forever Chemicals'

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Mounting evidence about the health effects, persistence, and bioaccumulation of PFAS has led to public and regulatory scrutiny that brings important implications for food and beverage producers. Begin integrating "forever chemicals" into your risk governance frameworks now to protect your business in the long-term.

FDA Partners with Industry to Research AI for Food Chemical Safety Assessment

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:15:00 -0500

The extended agreement between FDA’s Human Foods Program and Simulations Plus allows scientists to continue research involving computational models to support chemical safety assessments for food and food-contact substances.

Florida’s Latest Food Contaminant Testing Report Focuses on Glyphosate in Bread

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:30:00 -0500

Like the Healthy Florida First initiative’s previous reports on toxic heavy metals in candy and infant formula, details that would help contextualize the findings have not been disclosed, such as the sampling and testing methodology or relevant safety thresholds

Scientists Say Missing Data in Florida Reports on Metals in Candy, Infant Formula Create Confusion

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:32:30 -0500

The first reports from the MAHA-aligned Healthy Florida First initiatives raised concern about toxic heavy metals in infant formula and candy, but toxicologists say a lack of transparency around the methodology and risk assessment makes the findings difficult for experts to interpret and raises questions about the relevance to consumer health.

Researchers Develop Onsite Rapid Detection System for PFAS in Water

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:14:48 -0500

German Federal researchers have developed a rapid, onsite detection system for PFAS in water samples. Its cost-effectiveness and ease-of-use make it a potentially scalable solution for authorities and industry to monitor and remediate “forever chemical” contamination.

Using Risk Assessment to Interpret the Detection of Metals and Other Impurities in Foods

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Monitoring impurities in foods is an important tool for protecting vulnerable populations. However, as consumers encounter more reports of detectable impurities in everyday foods, concern is likely to grow unless these findings are clearly communicated in the context of potential health risk.

Stakeholders Urge FDA to Immediately Withdraw Approvals for Carcinogenic Swine Feed Additive Carbadox

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:44:38 -0500

A letter sent to FDA urges the agency to immediately withdraw its approval of Carbadox, a carcinogenic swine feed additive. FDA’s proposal to withdraw Carbadox approvals has been pending for two years, during which time there has not been an approved method for detecting Carbadox residue in pork.

FAO-Led UK-Philippines Collaboration Strengthens National AMR Defenses

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:35:15 -0400

The FAO UK Reference Center for AMR has partnered with the Philippines to strengthen national laboratory capacity and harmonize antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods, involving representatives across the food and agriculture sectors.

Eurofins Offers New Certification Program for Tested Sports Foods, Ingredients, Supplements

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:48:43 -0400

Clean Sport Certified is a product certification program with a focus on compounds of concern for sport organizations and anti-doping compliance. Certified clients will be eligible to use the Clean Sport and TruShield certification mark.

StellarNet Chemical Analysis Platform Enables Microplastics Detection in Food

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:05:34 -0400

The enhanced StellarScope AM/PA unites micron-scale morphological imaging with Raman spectroscopy, driven by intelligent software control, to allow food industry users to detect, measure, classify, and chemically identify microscopic particles in their products.

LGC Standards Offers New PFAS Reference Materials for EPA Method 1633

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:19:23 -0400

LGC Standards has expanded its portfolio of Dr. Ehrenstorfer PFAS testing solutions with new 13C-labeled reference materials developed for EPA Method 1633.

Researchers Use Improved Method to Detect Carcinogenic Cooking Compounds in Foods

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:42:47 -0400

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic compounds formed during cooking. A new Seoul Tech study has demonstrated the effectiveness of a streamlined analytical method to detect PAHs, which holds distinct advantages over conventional techniques.

Using AI, Researchers Offer Promising Real-Time Mycotoxin Detection Method for Foods

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:45:06 -0400

A new study led by the University of South Australia offers a promising real-time mycotoxin detection method for the food industry that is based in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and overcomes some of the limitations of traditional detection methods.

Portable, Rapid Sensor Can Simultaneously Detect Microbiological, Chemical Food Contaminants

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:25:40 -0400

Developed by University of Texas at Dallas scientists, EnliSense’s READ FWDx is a novel, compact rapid sensor that can simultaneously detect microbiological and chemical food contaminants. EnliSense and the researchers behind READ FWDx envision their technology being used by both food manufacturers and consumers at home.

Study: Using Analysis of Exogenous Pollutants to Trace Corn Production Origins

Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In the study, a high-throughput analysis system with an analysis time of 13 minutes was developed to detect pesticide residues in corn. Corn samples from different origins were found to contain distinct exogenous pesticide profiles.

Italian Standards Body Offers New Standard for Method of Detecting Honey Adulteration

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:57:32 -0400

Protecting Italian honey authenticity and combatting food fraud, the Italian Standards Body’s (UNI’s) new UNI 11972 standard introduces a new analytical method for detecting honey adulteration based in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance technology.

Experts Call for Global Harmonization of Risk Assessment Methods for Food Contact Materials

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 18:00:31 -0400

A paper authored by experts associated with ILSI Europe asserts that global food safety would benefit from the harmonization of risk assessment protocols for food contact materials used by different regulatory bodies, and suggests a path forward for working toward harmonization.

ImagoAI Galaxy Mycotoxins Test Achieves AOAC PTM Certification for Key Commodities

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:36:21 -0400

Adding to its existing certification for corn, ImagoAI’s Galaxy Mycotoxins Test has received the AOAC Performance Tested Methods (PTM) certification for aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, and zearalenone in Wheat, Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles (DDGS), and Corn Gluten Meal (CGM).

Updated Information on Thousands of Food Contact Chemicals Now Available in Open Access Database

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:40:02 -0400

The Food Packaging Forum’s open access Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex) has been updated to include the most recent science on thousands of food contact chemicals to which humans are exposed. FCCmigex supports scientific and regulatory efforts to improve food contact material safety.

FAO Identifies Needs for Including Gut Microbiome Data in Food Chemical Safety Risk Assessment

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:18:56 -0400

A recently published summary of an FAO technical meeting identified the challenges and needs related to applying gut microbiome data in future food chemical safety risk assessments.

USDA-FSIS Publishes Sampling Plan for FY 2025

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:13:31 -0500

USDA-FSIS has published its Annual Sampling Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, outlining the agency’s strategy for directing sampling resources in the coming year.

AOAC Gains Accreditation for Cannabis and Hemp Oil Proficiency Testing

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:43:47 -0500

AOAC International has announced that the Scope of Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17043 for the Proficiency Testing program has been expanded to include its cannabis and hemp oil programs.

Researchers Develop Open Access Mass Spectral Library of Chemicals to Aid Food Safety Testing

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 08:56:12 -0500

The open access Food Safety Mass Spectral Library, developed by Wageningen University and Research scientists, comprises more than 1,000 chemicals including veterinary drugs, contaminants, pesticides, and natural toxins.

End-to-End PFAS Management Solution Combines Treatment Services and Regulatory Navigation

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:48:00 -0400

BeyondPFAS from Veolia North America is a new, end-to-end management solution for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), combining the company’s PFAS treatment and disposal services with expert navigation of regulatory requirements and funding sources.

Combining Genomic Data, AI Analysis Creates a Powerful Food Safety Detection Tool, Study Shows

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 10:18:20 -0400

Combining genomic sequencing data and artificial intelligence (AI), researchers have demonstrated the efficacy of a new approach for the untargeted detection of contaminants, antibiotics, and other food safety anomalies in bulk milk samples.

Researchers Progress Improved Adulteration Detection Method for Dietary Supplements

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:15:43 -0400

Combining multiplex PCR and DNA barcoding, Chapman University researchers successfully detected fraudulent adulteration in half of ginseng supplement samples tested. With 28 percent of samples still unable to be identified, the researchers call for future studies combining DNA- and chemical-based testing methods.

Mérieux NutriSciences to Acquire Bureau Veritas’s Food Testing Business

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:31:14 -0400

Mérieux NutriSciences has entered into an agreement to acquire the food testing business of Bureau Veritas, which includes its microbiological and chemical analysis and molecular testing activities.