Ready-to-eat

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.

USDA-FSIS Investigated Seven Multistate Foodborne Illness Outbreaks in FY 2025

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:59:12 -0400

The agency has published a summary of foodborne illness outbreak investigations involving USDA-regulated products in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, alongside an after-action review of a fatal listeriosis outbreak linked to Yu Shang-brand ready-to-eat (RTE) meats that was solved in 2024.

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.

Congressional Bill Would Direct FDA to Enforce Stronger Infant Formula Safety Oversight

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:05:38 -0400

The Infant Formula Safety Modernization Act includes provisions about expanded pathogen testing requirements and compulsory environmental monitoring for infant formula manufacturers, among other mandates.

eBook | Ensuring Ready-to-Eat Food Safety from Processing to Retail

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods come with heightened food safety risks due to their lack of a final kill-step, leaving them susceptible to foodborne pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes. To help food firms control RTE food safety risks at all steps of the supply chain, this eBook provides solutions related to plant sanitation and hygiene, temperature abuse, culture, and more.

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.

ByHeart Infant Formula Botulism Outbreak Ends with Extensive WGS Evidence, but Root Cause Remains Unidentified

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:53:43 -0500

FDA has declared the outbreak over with 48 confirmed and probable cases of illness. A root-cause investigation is still ongoing. FDA has also announced new “Operation Stork Speed” infant formula resources for families.

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.

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.

Food Safety Five Ep. 26: Updates and Success Stories on Listeria Control in RTE Facilities

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:30:00 -0500

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses updated USDA-FSIS guidance on Listeria testing in RTE facilities, the latest on the Boar’s Head facility behind the fatal outbreak of 2024, and a real-world Listeria “Seek and Destroy” success story.

Prepared Pasta Meal Listeriosis Outbreak Ends with Seven Deaths

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:59:49 -0500

Affected products were sold under various brand names at numerous retailers. The products shared a single supplier of contaminated pasta, Nate’s Fine Foods Inc.

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.

FDA to Begin Testing Infant Formula Products, Ingredients for C. botulinum

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:10:09 -0500

Following the ByHeart botulism outbreak, FDA intends to begin testing infant formula products and ingredients for Clostridium botulinum to help determine whether contamination by the pathogen is a “foreseeable hazard that companies could test for.”

EFSA Sets Safety Thresholds for Cereulide Toxin in Infant Formula

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:45:59 -0500

Responding to the global infant formula recall affecting products from Nestlé, Danone, and other producers, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has determined concentrations of cereulide in formula that pose a safety concern to guide risk management decisions that protect public health.

UK Mother’s Allegation that Recalled Nestlé Formula Sickened her Baby is Unconfirmed

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:47:00 -0500

Nestlé says that cereulide, the contaminant behind the recall, does not cause meningitis, the illness for which the infant was hospitalized. UK authorities say no cases of illness associated with Nestlé formula have been clinically confirmed.

From Crackers to Kibble: Why Pet Food Belongs in the Low-Moisture Food Safety Conversation

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500

When experts from human food, animal food, academia, and government sit at the same table, the common ground is often larger than expected.

USDA Updates Guidance to Reflect Expanded Listeria Oversight in RTE Facilities

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:42:38 -0500

USDA-FSIS has reissued its guidance on testing for Listeria species other than Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) food production facilities to reflect expansions made to the agency’s testing method and enforcement actions.

‘Operation Stork Speed’ Expert Panel Highlights Infant Formula Safety Vulnerabilities

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:42:00 -0500

An expert panel that was convened to support FDA’s “Operation Stork Speed” emphasizes the need for streamlined FDA approval processes for infant formulas, more transparent ingredient approval processes (i.e., GRAS, food additive petitions), and enforceable limits for environmental contaminants.

CFA Offers Industry-Led Guidance on EU and UK Listeria Criteria for RTE Foods

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:23:57 -0500

The UK-based Chilled Food Association (CFA) has produced an industry-led good practice guidance for manufacturers and retailers of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that may support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes to support compliance with UK and EU regulations on the microbiological criteria for foods.

Florida Launches Food Contaminant Testing Program with Report on Metals in Infant Formula

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Florida unveiled the Healthy Florida First initiative, a MAHA-aligned product contaminant testing effort, alongside the initiative's first report focused on the presence of toxic heavy metals in infant formulas. Several products had elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

EU Provides Guidance on Shelf-Life Studies to Reflect New Listeria Criteria for RTE Foods

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:39:16 -0500

The European Commission has published a revised guidance document on monitoring and shelf-life studies for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in compliance with recent amendments to Regulation (EU) 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria for foods.

Codex Initiates Work on Clostridium botulinum in Infant Formula

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

At the 55^th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), prompted by the ongoing infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart formula in the U.S., CCFH decided to initiate work related to the control of Clostridium botulinum in powdered infant formula.

51 Cases of Infant Botulism Dating Back to 2023 Now Included in ByHeart Outbreak

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:29:41 -0500

As of December 10, a total of 51 infants are included in the ByHeart formula botulism outbreak. With an expanded case definition, CDC has identified cases that occurred as early as December 2023.

Coalition Urges RFK Jr. to Fix Infant Formula Oversight Problems that Allowed Infant Botulism Outbreak

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:10:22 -0500

The Safe Food Coalition, comprising seven influential stakeholder groups, has written a letter to FDA, CDC, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging the agencies to take immediate action to protect infant formula, in light of the ongoing ByHeart infant botulism outbreak.

39 Infant Botulism Cases Now Linked to ByHeart Formula Outbreak

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:11:37 -0500

The nationwide infant botulism outbreak associated with ByHeart infant formula has grown to 39 cases in 18 states. All 39 infants were hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.

ByHeart Finds Widespread Contamination in Infant Formula as Botulism Outbreak Grows; FDA Publishes Inspection Reports

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:24:38 -0500

ByHeart Inc. tested its products and found C. botulinum Type A in five of 36 samples across three lots. As of November 26, the outbreak includes 37 cases of infant botulism spanning 17 states. FDA has published inspection documents for ByHeart production facilities confirming a history of food safety issues.

ByHeart Outbreak Grows: 31 Infants in 15 States Hospitalized for Botulism From Tainted Formula

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:11:21 -0500

As of November 19, the number of infant botulism cases linked to consumption of ByHeart formula has grown to 31 across 15 states. ByHeart's testing of its own product has confirmed the presence of Clostridium botulinum.

FDA Warning Letter Provides Insight Into Fresh and Ready Foods RTE Listeria Outbreak

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:53:22 -0500

FDA recently released a warning letter dated September 5, 2025, issued to Fresh and Ready Foods LLC, a ready-to-eat (RTE) foods producer that was implicated in a multi-state, multi-year listeriosis outbreak.

Congresswoman Presses FDA to Release ByHeart Inspection Records Amid Infant Botulism Outbreak

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:37:15 -0500

Clostridium botulinum-contaminated ByHeart-brand formula has sickened at least 23 babies across 13 states. FDA inspection reports and warning letters have come to light showing a history of food safety and hygiene violations at the company’s production facilities.

ByHeart Formula Now Linked to 23 Infant Botulism Cases in 13 States

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:27:13 -0500

The outbreak of infant botulism linked to ByHeart infant formula has grown to 23 confirmed cases in 13 states. All infants have been hospitalized, with no deaths reported. The company has issued a recall of all formula products sold nationwide.