FDA

Top U.S. Food Safety Officials Discuss Regulatory Landscape at Food Safety Summit

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 14 May 2026 13:06:25 -0400

On Thursday morning, officials from FDA, USDA-FSIS, CDC, and AFDO (representing state and local jurisdictions) took the stage at the 2026 Food Safety Summit Town Hall to talk about the current developments and priorities at their respective agencies.

FDA Encourages Industry to Develop Best Practices, Use Root Cause Analyses

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:30:48 -0400

The agency has released two new web resources to help stakeholders work with FDA as they develop best practices and implement root cause analyses.

FDA Commissioner Steps Down, To Be Replaced by Agency’s Human Foods Leader

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:15:50 -0400

Marty Makary, M.D., has been ousted as FDA Commissioner. He will reportedly be replaced by the agency’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Kyle Diamantas, J.D.

FDA Finalizes Systematic Post-Market Food Chemical Review Process

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:16 -0400

The agency also announced the launch of reassessments for butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and azodicarbonamide (ADA).

New USDA Dietary Guidelines with a Focus on Food Packaging

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article discusses what the recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 say about "highly processed foods" and the food packaging concerns associated with such foods.

FDA Launches One-Day Inspectional Assessments

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:44:25 -0400

Piloting of these assessments began in April and will continue through fiscal year 2026 at facilities across FDA inspectorates, including human and animal foods. The assessments are short, focused screening assignments that complement standard FDA inspections.

Aldi's Decision to Ban 44 Food Additives Gets Ahead of Regulatory Uncertainty

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:39:08 -0400

Responding to growing consumer and regulatory demand for “natural” foods, the decision builds on Aldi’s removal of 13 synthetic colorants from its portfolio more than ten years ago. The grocer announced this ban while Congress, states, and industry debate ingredient oversight.

Raw Farm E. coli Outbreak Ends; Congress Questions Why FDA Never Used Mandatory Recall Authority

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:45:29 -0400

The E. coli outbreak involving Raw Farm unpasteurized dairy products has ended with one raw cheese sample matching isolates from a different 2025 outbreak. In an April 29 hearing, Congresspeople questioned whether U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy influenced FDA’s failure to mandate a recall.

Federal Preemption of State Food Safety Laws Debated During Congressional Hearing

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:42:08 -0400

In an April 29 Congressional hearing considering 28 active food safety bills, U.S. Representatives and witnesses from industry and consumer protection groups debated federal preemption of state food safety laws, GRAS and chemical ingredient oversight, and FDA–state information-sharing during outbreaks.

FDA Testing Shows U.S. Infant Formula is Safe, with Undetectable or Very Low Chemical Contamination

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:39 -0400

Samples were tested for arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, PFAS, pesticides, and phthalates/plasticizers. When toxic heavy metals were detected in some samples, it was at levels far below EPA drinking water limits.

Bill Reintroduced to Allow FDA to Share Information with State Agencies During Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:29:48 -0400

The Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026 would give FDA the authority to share information with state and local regulatory agencies with shared responsibility for protecting public health.

FRESH Act Aims to Preempt State Food Safety Laws, Proposes Controversial GRAS Reforms

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:54:15 -0400

The draft bill proposes sweeping reforms to FDA’s food safety oversight, including GRAS process changes, infant and baby food safety provisions, and federal preemption of state laws. Consumer groups say the FRESH Act’s GRAS reforms and federal preemption language would weaken U.S. food safety.

Congress to Hold Legislative Hearing on 28 Active Bills Related to Food Safety, FDA

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:21:16 -0400

The bills to be discussed address issues like “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) determinations, food chemical safety reassessments, food labeling, infant formula and baby food safety, information-sharing between federal and state agencies, additional FDA authorities for human foods oversight, and other topics.

Tips for Building Confidence in Your Third-Party Laboratory's Salmonella Results

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article reviews why testing for Salmonella is important, the challenges encountered when testing for Salmonella (specifically when using FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 5 guidelines), and how to evaluate if your testing laboratory is providing reliable testing results.

From Concept to Commercialization: Regulatory Developments Shaping the Cultivated Protein Market

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Cultivated protein is moving from concept to commercialization, but a fragmented mix of federal progress, state-level restrictions, and uneven global regulation makes regulatory strategies a key determinant of success.

FDA to Hold Town Halls on Food Traceability Rule Implementation

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:19:14 -0400

Registration is now open for the virtual meetings on FSMA 204, which will be jointly hosted with the Partnership for Food Traceability. FDA is interested in hearing stakeholder feedback on lot-level traceability efforts, industry challenges, and potential solutions.

FDA Launches BRIDGE Project to Modernize Food Facility Inspections

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:51:15 -0400

Working toward an Integrated Food Safety System, by 2030, FDA expects the Better Regulatory Inspections for Dynamic Government Efficiency (BRIDGE) Project to accomplish a more coordinated, data-driven model for domestic food safety oversight across federal and state systems.

FDA FY 2027 Budget Request Includes $57 Million for ‘MAHA’

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:39:32 -0400

FDA’s Human Foods Program specifically would receive a significant increase in funding compared to the previous fiscal year (FY), including $25 million to help address chemical contaminants and additives like PFAS, toxic heavy metals, and GRAS ingredients.

Stop Foodborne Illness, FDA to Host ‘Culture Change Carnival’ Webinar in April

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:34:30 -0400

The free event is open to the public and is the fifth installment in the joint multi-part webinar series focused on advancing food safety culture.

FDA’s Human Foods Program Publishes Priority Scientific Needs to Advance Food Safety

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:57:11 -0400

The list of data, method, and research needs spans microbiological and chemical safety, nutrition, risk assessment, and other areas. It is intended to guide researchers who are interested in pursuing impactful food safety research.

Latest FDA Post-Investigation Summary for Mango Salmonella Outbreak Redacts Key Details

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:30:50 -0400

Redacted details include the importer of the implicated mangoes, the country in which the mangoes were grown, and the number and names of states in which outbreak cases were reported.

Drug-Resistant Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Moringa Supplements Ends, Root Cause Remains Unknown

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:09:57 -0400

Although FDA was unable to find a cause of contamination, a single supplier of the contaminated moringa powder was identified. Affected products, which were sold under the Rosabella brand and distributed by Ambrosia Brands LLC, have been recalled.

FDA Issues RFI on Changing Market Name for Certain Rockfish to ‘Snapper’

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:18:40 -0400

Industry members have requested the market name for specific Sebastes (rockfish) species be changed to “snapper” in the Seafood List. FDA has identified critical areas that must be considered before this change is made, including classification, food safety and hazard identification, and labeling and allergen concerns.

NEHA–FDA Retail Program Standards Symposium to Take Place in April

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:58:58 -0400

The free, virtual event for state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions will deliver practical insights on advancing retail food safety in compliance with FDA’s Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.

IFSAC Publishes Latest U.S. Foodborne Illness Source Attribution Estimates

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:11:07 -0400

The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) is a joint effort between CDC, FDA, and USDA-FSIS. The latest report covers the year 2023 and focuses on the food vehicles of illnesses from Salmonella, E. coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Patient Count in Raw Farm E. coli Outbreak Grows, Majority are Young Children

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:42:55 -0400

Nearly all of the ill people interviewed reported consuming Raw Farm-brand raw dairy products. Testing and an onsite inspection of Raw Farm’s operation in California is ongoing. Raw Farm LLC has yet to issue a recall.

FDA Delays Approvals for ‘Natural’ Food Dyes Due to Stakeholder Objections

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:30:00 -0400

The delays give the agency time to respond to comments made on the final orders approving beetroot red and spirulina extract for use as color additives in human foods. However, FDA stands by its determinations that the colorants are safe for their intended uses.

Amid E. coli Outbreak, Congress Urges FDA to Mandate Raw Cheese Recall

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:27:00 -0400

“If mandatory authority needs to be strengthened, the Food Safety Caucus stands ready to tackle this issue at FDA’s request,” wrote Congress members in a statement about the ongoing E. coli outbreak involving Raw Farm raw cheese products. Raw Farm has so far refused to recall.

FDA Withdraws COVID-Era Temporary Guidances for Onsite Visits Under FSMA

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:51:25 -0400

As COVID-19 no longer significantly impacts travel, FDA believes the temporary guidances are no longer relevant. The withdrawals will be effective on June 16, 2026.

FDA Highlights Successful Mexico-U.S. Effort to Eliminate Salmonella Outbreaks from Papayas

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

No U.S. Salmonella outbreaks linked to Mexican papayas have been identified since 2020 thanks to collaborative efforts between regulators and industry in both countries. The case study could serve as a framework for improving food safety in other commodities and global supply chains.

FDA