Supply Chain

UK-EU Trade Agreement Would Harmonize Certain Food Safety Rules by Mid-2027

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:52:41 -0400

UK businesses will be required to align with relevant EU regulatory requirements within the scope of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, regardless of whether they export to the EU or sell only to the UK market.

EU Launches AI Traceability Platform to Strengthen Detection of Food Fraud, Safety Risks

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:08:06 -0400

TraceMap supports national authorities in identifying food safety threats and improving EU-wide coordinated response. A pilot version of TraceMap was recently used to support the investigation of globally distributed cereulide-contaminated infant formula.

Study Shows Drinking Water Quality Significantly Impacts Salmonella Vaccines for Poultry

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Elevated levels of certain metals and the presence of commonly used disinfectants were found to inactivate Salmonella vaccines administered to poultry via drinking water.

FDA Releases Initial Findings from Foodborne Pathogen Study in California Growing Region

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:01:39 -0500

The California Longitudinal Study, a five-year environmental study of California’s Central Coast produce-growing region, identified wildlife, livestock, and surface water as potential contributors to the persistence and movement of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC).

Large Grocery Retailer Using ReposiTrak Becomes First to Achieve Full FSMA 204 Compliance

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:14:50 -0500

ReposiTrak asserts that this use case provides evidence that large-scale, automated traceability in compliance with FDA’s Food Traceability Rule is both operationally feasible and economically practical.

NCCO Introduces Handheld Food Product Labeling Device

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:32:03 -0500

The portable DateCodeGenie Mini allows operators in foodservice and food retail establishments to apply harmonized labels to products, which can be updated through a centralized digital portal.

Study Underlines Underappreciated Risks of Refrigerators: Microbial Communities, AMR, Inadequate Hygiene

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:30:00 -0500

In an analysis of domestic refrigerator swabs, researchers discovered complex microbial communities harboring foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The findings also suggested that regular cleaning is possibly more important than temperature control in managing these communities.

EU Increases Import Controls for the Ingredient Behind Global Infant Formula Recall

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:45:43 -0500

Arachidonic acid oil (AHA oil) from a Chinese supplier was identified as the source of cereulide toxin contamination in infant formula produced by Nestlé and other well-known brands. Imports of Chinese AHA oil are now subject to stricter EU border checks.

Study Demonstrates Effective Listeria Environmental Monitoring in Hydroponic Produce Facility

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:30:00 -0500

The researchers conducted environmental sampling throughout a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operation and tested swabs for L. monocytogenes. Boot covers proved to be a useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitation.

New RFID Tagging Solution for Fresh Food Tagging Helps Address Food Waste

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:00:52 -0500

Avery Dennison’s AD IdentiFresh inlay series provides real-time fresh food inventory visibility for both retailers and suppliers across categories like bakery, meat, deli, and produce.

TraceGains, iFoodDS Expand Partnership to Offer Traceability Solutions

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:10:34 -0500

Integration between the companies’ networks and platforms supports compliance with FDA’s Food Traceability Rule and enables suppliers to earn the TraceApproved FSMA 204 traceability readiness badge.

FDA Announces FSMA 204 Stakeholder Engagement Initiative, Releases Guidance

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:49:42 -0500

The agency has also finalized the exemption for IMS-listed Grade A cottage cheese from the requirements of the Food Traceability Rule.

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.”

FAO Highlights Overlooked Role of Food Waste in Spread of AMR

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

A new review by FAO researchers identifies how food loss and waste (FLW) can disseminate antibiotic resistance (AMR), as well as practices that can either mitigate or exacerbate AMR dissemination from FLW.

Buyer-Led Supply Chain Screening: Establish Trust Without Betting the Business

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This article discusses how effective supplier screening is critical to managing risks such as food fraud, regulatory non-compliance, and unethical sourcing.

ReposiTrak Introduces Automated Error Correction Technology for Traceability Data

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:09:59 -0500

The patented-pending system addresses the food industry’s problem of an average 40 percent error rate in all traceability records.

Australian National Survey Finds AMR Bacteria on Retail Meats is ‘Low-Risk’

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:31:38 -0500

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has published the findings of a national survey of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne bacteria on raw beef, chicken, and pork meat at retail.

California Legislation Tightens Produce Industry Requirements for Categorical Exclusion from EPR Program

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:04:00 -0500

CalRecycle has issued a final draft of the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54), which establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to manage packaging and single-use plastic. Western Growers shared concerns about the produce industry’s ability to qualify for categorical exclusion.

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.

Study Shows How Reclaimed Irrigation Water Treatments Influence AMR Bacteria Transfer to Crops

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:24:00 -0500

The researchers found that advanced, multi-step disinfection treatment significantly reduces the antibiotic resistance (AMR)-related food safety risks of wastewater reused for irrigation, while biological treated water remains a potential source of resistant bacteria contamination.

FoodChain ID Announces Partnership in Ukraine, Acquisition in Brazil

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:40:30 -0500

FoodChain ID recently announced two global developments: a partnership with the Center of Excellence for Life Sciences, Agriculture, and Bioingenuity to support recovery of the Ukrainian agri-food sector and the acquisition of Brazilian certification body Sbcert.

FAO Publishes Recommendations for Food E-Commerce Regulations

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:28:53 -0500

A new publication from FAO analyzes existing regulatory frameworks related to online food sales and presents recommendations to national authorities on the development of food e-commerce laws and enforcement.

Researchers to Develop E. coli Risk Assessment Model for Produce Grown Near Animal Feedlots

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:13:56 -0500

With the hope of developing a user-friendly model, a Center for Produce Safety-funded study is investigating factors that influence Escherichia coli contamination risks posed by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) near produce growing fields.

EU Launches Task Force on Food Safety Import Controls

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:39:21 -0500

The European Commission has established a task force to strengthen food safety controls for food imports, building upon a broader set of measures announced in December.

Alliance for Advanced Sanitation Launches Survey to Address Gaps in Innovation and Workforce Development

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:21:38 -0500

The Alliance for Advanced Sanitation has launched an industry-wide survey to capture the current state of innovation, manufacturing, and workforce needs across the global food supply chain.

Global Seafood Trade Increases Dietary Exposure to PFAS Worldwide, Study Finds

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

An international study has shown that European seafood is high in PFAS, and that fish exports expose consumers in regions of the world with otherwise low levels of pollution to harmful “forever chemicals.”

Applications Open for NEHA–FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model Grant Program

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:12:43 -0500

With the goal of helping retail food regulatory programs progress toward achieving FDA’s Retail Program Standards, grant funding supports capacity building, workforce development, and targeted program improvements that strengthen food safety at the retail level.

Journal Retracts Hallmark Glyphosate Safety Study, Increasing Cancer Concerns

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

A paper from the year 2000 suggesting the safety of glyphosate (the active ingredient in herbicide Roundup), which has been cited for decades in regulatory decisions and pesticide approvals, has been retracted after litigation revealed undisclosed conflicts of interest undermining the study’s integrity.

Portable Device Allows Onsite, Real-Time Detection of Food Allergens, Gluten

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:14:52 -0500

Allergen Alert is a portable device that automates the full laboratory analytical process in a “mini lab” so that consumers and foodservice professionals alike can detect the presence of allergens or gluten in a meal, onsite and in minutes, ensuring food safety for those with food allergies and celiac disease.