Regulatory

Stricter EU Regulations on Listeria in RTE Foods Now in Effect; Ireland Offers Compliance Guidance

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:08:03 -0400

Effective July 1, the amended Regulation (EU) 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria for foods expands the requirements for food business operators regarding Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods.

California Law Standardizing ‘Best By’ Dates Now in Effect: What Packaged Food Manufacturers Need to Know

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Starting July 1, companies selling packaged foods in California must include food safety and quality dates using specific terminology. “Sell By” and other expiration date terms not specified in AB 660 are prohibited.

FDA to Hire 2,200 Staffers as it Narrows Search for Commissioner, Names Produce Safety Director

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:33:25 -0400

After losing more than 4,000 employees since the Trump Administration took office, FDA is in the process of hiring and re-hiring thousands. The agency is also close to choosing its next Commissioner and has selected a new Director of Produce Safety in the Human Foods Program’s Office of Microbiological Food Safety.

Trump Admin Stopped Criminal Charges Against Abbott Nutrition for Infant Formula Illnesses

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:21:46 -0400

The Trump Administration’s Department of Justice “does not believe in regulation by prosecution,” a spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal, aligning with a May 2025 Executive Order that “strongly discourages” criminal prosecution of any regulatory offense not explicitly identified by the Administration.

Small-Scale Produce Growers Share Perspectives on FDA’s Produce Safety Rule Exemptions

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Researchers from Purdue University conducted focus groups with Indiana produce growers who qualified for exemptions from the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, examining the beliefs and practical constraints that shape on-farm food safety practices.

FDA Human Foods Program Updates 2026 Guidance Agenda to Include ‘Healthy’ Claim, Caffeine Labeling

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:11:23 -0400

The guidance agenda lists topics that the program is considering for possible guidance documents or revisions to existing guidance documents, spanning Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation; Microbiological Food Safety; and Nutrition.

USDA-FSIS Announces Pilot Program to Evaluate Salmonella Control Strategies in Raw Poultry Establishments

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:30:30 -0400

As part of the pilot, FSIS plans to evaluate a shortened moving window for Salmonella performance standards.

Operational Strategies for Safe and Efficient Food Manufacturing

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Food manufacturing operates at a pressure point where biological risk, regulatory obligation, mechanical complexity, and human performance converge simultaneously.

Fly Control in Food Processing Facilities: Managing Seasonal Food Safety Risks

pathottel@mccloudservices.com (Patricia Hottel M.Sc., BCE, PCQI) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Fly control is critical to food safety. Orkin Commercial's IPM programs help food processing facilities address moisture, organic buildup, and access points before they create contamination or compliance risks.

CDC, FDA, USDA Collaboration Defines Framework for Classifying REP Strains, Identifies Strains of Concern

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Reoccurring, emerging, and persisting (REP) strains cause foodborne illnesses over extended periods of time, rather than through isolated outbreaks. The REP framework was jointly developed by CDC, FDA, and USDA-FSIS through the Interagency Foodborne Outbreak Response Collaboration.

Supreme Court Decides EPA Regulations Preempt State Laws on Pesticide Health Warnings

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:51:52 -0400

The ruling in the case Monsanto v. Durnell shields pesticide manufacturers like Bayer–Monsanto, the maker of glyphosate-based Roundup, in failure-to-warn lawsuits. A legal expert explained to Food Safety Magazine how this decision potentially weakens state right-to-know chemical health warning laws like California's Proposition 65.

Food Standards Scotland Study Identifies Factors Driving Foodborne Illness Risk Among Older Adults

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:28:13 -0400

Based on the findings, researchers recommended targeted food safety messaging for older adults that raises awareness of age-related susceptibility to foodborne illness and the potential severity of infection, and acknowledges the effects of health, financial, and environmental realities on food safety practices.

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Ban U.S. Paraquat Use, Citing Parkinson’s Concerns

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:08:05 -0400

The Paraquat Prevention Act would cancel all EPA-registered uses of the herbicide and permanently prohibit its reregistration. More than 70 countries, including the EU and China, have banned the domestic use of paraquat, although China still manufactures and exports the chemical to the U.S.

Product Testing Suggests USDA-FSIS Regulations for C. perfringens in Meat May Be ‘Overly Conservative’

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Real-world data from meat processors show Clostridium perfringens is rarely detected in fully cooked meat and poultry products and remains uncommon even when deviations from USDA-FSIS Appendix B parameters are reported, challenging assumptions underlying regulatory limits for growth during stabilization.

SQF Audit Not for Another Year—Now What Do You Do?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article shares best practices for using existing organizational momentum to drive food safety culture improvement and keep SQF scores high. It also suggests ways to cast a wide net to gather ideas for continual improvement that will reduce risk and better protect public health.

Food Safety Provisions in the 2026 Farm Bill

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:15:00 -0400

As it stands, the bill would mandate that USDA provide guidance on HACCP plans to small and very small meat processors, require USDA and FDA to define “honey” and establish honey authenticity testing standards, and initiate other directives.

65 Organizations Petition FDA to End Routine Preventive Antibiotic Use in Food Animals

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:27:47 -0400

Citing concerns about antibiotic overuse in food-producing animals contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the petition calls for FDA to withdraw approvals for the routine use of medically important drugs for disease prevention.

FoodChain ID Now Accredited to Conduct Inspection Services in France

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:16:17 -0400

The accreditation from COFRAC, France’s sole national accreditation body, covers inspections to assess food safety and quality practices at food retail establishments.

Honey Sold in EU Must Now Carry Countries of Origin on Label

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

New EU labeling regulations for honey went into effect on June 14, introducing strengthened requirements for country-of-origin declarations.

EU Changes Certifications for U.S. Mollusk Imports, Increases Checks for Other High-Risk Foods

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The EU has implemented increased checks on certain food imports at the border, and has also introduced new certificate requirements for shipments of oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and other aquaculture products from the U.S. due to veterinary drug use restrictions.

Consumer Reports to USDA: Release Validation Data on Salmonella Tests for Breaded, Stuffed Chicken Products

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:07:16 -0400

As the agency continues to delay enforcement of Salmonella verification testing for not-ready-to-eat, breaded and stuffed chicken products, Consumer Reports is asking for evidence to support USDA-FSIS’ assertion that currently available test methods are not suitable, which contradicts the agency’s previous stance.

Busting Myths: New World Screwworm is Not a Food Safety Risk

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:07:20 -0400

USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears, in collaboration with the Partnership for Food Safety Education, is calling on food safety educators nationwide to help dispel misinformation about the safety of the food supply amid the current New World Screwworm infestation.

EU Member States Report Challenges in Implementing Food Safety Culture Official Controls

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:25:40 -0400

Following the adoption of EU regulations in 2021 that set food safety culture requirements for food business operators, a European Commission survey conducted in 2025 showed that countries’ progress and approach toward culture official controls are varied, with significant difficulties reported.

WHO Calls for Experts to Join Pesticide Advisory Group

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:15:00 -0400

The WHO Advisory Group on Pesticide Specifications supports the evaluation of scientific dossiers to inform the development of WHO specifications for public health pesticides.

FDA Traceability Rule Readiness Exercises Reveal Supply Chain Coordination Matters More than Technology

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:36:36 -0400

A series of tabletop exercises led by FDA and involving food companies across the supply chain revealed industry’s progress and challenges in meeting the requirements of the Food Traceability Rule/FSMA 204.

EU Drafting Legislation to Require Checks for Cereulide Toxin in Infant Formula

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:30:00 -0400

Following a high-profile, global recall of infant formulas due to cereulide contamination in early 2026, the European Commission is drafting an act that would introduce additional checks for the toxin in formulas.

Europeans’ Exposure to Dioxins, DL-PCBs in Food Still Too High, EFSA Risk Assessment Finds

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:40:17 -0400

Dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) are environmental contaminants generated as byproducts of industrial processes and waste incineration. EFSA’s risk assessment resulted in a lower tolerable weekly intake, which Europeans generally exceed.

Canadian Monitoring of Baby Foods Finds 100 Percent Compliance with Chemical Contaminant Limits

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:15:00 -0400

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has published the most recent findings from its Children’s Food Project and National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program, which test foods for toxic heavy metals, veterinary drugs, pesticides, and other substances.

How Codex Helps Address the World’s Top Five Foodborne Hazards

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:56:35 -0400

Following the release of WHO’s new foodborne disease burden estimates and relating to the 2026 World Food Safety Day theme, “From Burden to Solutions—Safe Food Everywhere,” FAO and WHO are highlighting how Codex Alimentarius standards and related work help prevent foodborne disease.

UK High Court Finds FSA Charged Meat Industry Unlawful Inspection Rates

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

According to the ruling, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) included certain costs in its meat controls hourly rate and enforcement rate that were outside the scope of permissible charges under the applicable official controls legislation.