USDA

U.S. Codex Office to Hold Public Meeting Ahead of CCFL49

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0400

The objective of the virtual public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the upcoming 49^th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL49).

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.

USDA-FSIS Seeks Input on Potential Updates to Establishment Size Definitions

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:55:49 -0400

Considering advice previously offered by NACMPI, stakeholder feedback will help inform whether FSIS moves forward with proposed changes to the current establishment size categorization scheme under the HACCP Final Rule to better reflect current industry conditions and improve regulatory effectiveness.

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.

Foreign Material, Undeclared Allergens Caused Most USDA Food Recalls in 2025

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:36:30 -0500

A total of 42 recalls comprising 71,420,721 pounds (lbs.) of product were issued between January and December.

USDA-FSIS Proposes to Permanently Raise Line Speed Limits at Swine, Poultry Slaughter Establishments

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:42:24 -0500

Establishments operating under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS) would be allowed to determine their own line speeds, and New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) establishment line speeds would be raised.

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.

Registration Now Open for 2026 AFDO Annual Education Conference

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:50:56 -0500

Taking place June 5–9 in Columbus, Ohio, the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) 130^th Annual Education Conference offers sessions focused on manufactured food safety, retail food safety, and produce safety.

NASEM Publishes Report to Guide USDA’s Response to PFAS in Agricultural Systems

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:05:00 -0500

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has published a report on PFAS in agricultural systems to help guide USDA's response to the impacts of agricultural lands polluted by these “forever chemicals.”

FDA, USDA, CDC Continue to Lose Staffers in Fiscal Year 2026

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:10:16 -0500

New data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shows the most recent and complete picture of workforce attrition at federal agencies responsible for food safety and public health.

Advancing Science-Based Approaches to Salmonella Control in Meat

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This article examines shifting USDA regulatory expectations, evolving risk assessment tools, and realistic strategies to manage Salmonella as a true public health risk rather than solely a process control issue.

Report Raises Concerns About U.S. Food Recall Timeliness, Transparency in 2025

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

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund’s newly published Food for Thought report outlines food recalls and foodborne illness outbreak investigations that occurred in 2025 and provides recommendations for improving the U.S. food recall system.

NASDA’s 2026 Policy Priorities Focus on Pesticides, Animal Diseases, and Farm Bill Food Safety

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:45:55 -0500

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has set its federal policy priorities for 2026. Food safety-related issues are central to NASDA's 2026 advocacy work for the Farm Bill, animal diseases and traceability, and pesticides

USDA-FSIS Issues Revision to Safe Ingredients Directive for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:42:00 -0500

USDA-FSIS has issued updates to the list of substances that may be used in the production of meat, poultry, and egg products.

Regulatory Response to Boar’s Head, McDonald’s Outbreaks Reveal Areas for Improvement

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

A new paper describes U.S. regulatory agencies’ roles in two recent, high-profile foodborne illness outbreak investigations—the Boar’s Head listeriosis outbreak and the McDonald’s Escherichia coli outbreak—and highlights the shortcomings and strengths in how the outbreaks were managed.

Food Safety Five Ep. 24: ‘Highly’ vs. ‘Ultra’ Processed Foods—Dietary Guidelines Raise Questions

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:30:00 -0500

This episode of Food Safety Five reads between the lines of the revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans, discussing its use of the term “highly processed foods,” how its definition differs (or does not differ) from the debated “ultra-processed foods” category, and the potential implications for food policy.

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.

USDA-FSIS Describes Vision for Science-Based Approach to Reducing Salmonella in Poultry

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:11:39 -0500

At a January 14 public meeting on strategies to reduce Salmonella in poultry products, USDA-FSIS focused on the importance of tailored strategies, data-driven decisions, and considering the needs of small- and medium-sized establishments. Stakeholders shared their concerns and ideas.

Support for USDA-FSIS’ Withdrawn Regulatory Framework for Salmonella in Poultry Voiced at Meeting

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:19:06 -0500

At a public meeting on January 14 held by USDA-FSIS to discuss strategies for reducing salmonellosis attributable to poultry, a Consumer Reports food scientist argued for the agency to return to its now-withdrawn proposed regulatory framework for Salmonella in poultry.

Institutions Nationwide Collaborate in USDA-Funded Project to Improve Microbial Food Safety

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Supported in part by USDA-NIFA, multidisciplinary researchers and Extension professionals from U.S. land-grant institutions have collaborated under the Enhancing Microbial Safety by Risk Analysis project, completing new research, helping inform policy, and providing education and outreach.

Ep. 209. Helena Bottemiller Evich: The MAHA Effect on American Food Policy

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:30:00 -0500

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to acclaimed food policy journalist Helena Bottemiller Evich about the rise of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, the current state of food and nutrition policy under its agenda, and predictions for its future.

USDA Lost 18 Percent of Workforce in First Six Months of Trump Admin, OIG Reports

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:14:02 -0500

According to a report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for USDA, 20,306 employees left the agency between January and June 2025. This does not include any attrition from the agency’s planned reorganization or the federal government shutdown.

USDA-FSIS Makes Leadership Changes

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:57:03 -0500

USDA-FSIS has named Robert Bane as the new Deputy Administrator of Field Operations, who will serve alongside Deputy Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen in the Office of the Administrator. FSIS also announced several other appointments in different offices.

Court Ruling Closes Loophole Exempting UPFs from GMO Ingredient Labeling Rule

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

A U.S. appeals court has ruled that USDA must amend the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard to close the loophole that exempts certain “ultra-processed” foods (UPFs) from displaying label disclosures for genetically modified (GM) ingredients. Additionally, the court ruled that QR code-only disclosures are unlawful without explicit on-label statements.

Innodal’s Clean-Label Processing Aid for Listeria Receives Green Light from USDA

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:17:03 -0500

INNEO is a peptide-based antimicrobial processing aid. USDA’s No Objection Letter enables U.S. meat and poultry processors to use INNEO both as a surface treatment and directly within the food matrix of comminuted products.

Eat Real Food: New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Name and Shame ‘Highly Processed Foods’

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:34:31 -0500

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 were unveiled on January 7 alongside a new, inverted food pyramid that elevates the importance of protein and dairy, and an “eat real food” messaging campaign that denounces “highly processed food.”

USDA Reports 99 Percent of Foods Tested in 2024 Complied with Pesticide Residue Tolerances

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

As in years past, USDA’s Pesticide Data Program reports that more than 99 percent of foods sampled in 2024 were compliant with EPA pesticide residue limits. Some persistent organic pollutants, like DDT, continue to show up in crops.

Yiannas, McDonald, Besser, Hedberg: Fixing the Outbreak Investigation System

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 09:23:02 -0500

In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to four seasoned professionals with experience in the regulatory, academic, and industry spheres about the increasing rate of U.S. food recalls and how the foodborne illness outbreak investigation system could be improved.

A 2025 Timeline of U.S. Federal Food Safety Changes Under the Trump Admin

BlumeA@bnpmedia.com (Adrienne Blume, M.A.) — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

To help paint a picture of how federal food safety and public health regulatory agencies have been affected by the second Trump Administration, this article provides a 2025 timeline summarizing major happenings at HHS, FDA, CDC, and USDA, including firings and hirings, restructurings, policy changes, program and budget cuts, and other actions.

Ep. 208: Reviewing 2025—A Year of Change for Food Safety Policy

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 02:30:00 -0500

In this year-end episode of Food Safety Matters, we round up the top stories of 2025, covering U.S. federal food safety policy changes under the Trump Administration, MAHA- and state-led moves against food additives of concern and ultra-processed foods, infant formula safety, science on Listeria and biofilms, ongoing monitoring of avian flu, and AI food safety applications.