Foodservice/Retail

Kwik Trip to Receive IAFP’s 2026 Black Pearl Award

Wed, 20 May 2026 05:30:00 -0400

The International Association for Food Protection’s (IAFP’s) Black Pearl Award is given annually to one company for its efforts in advancing food safety and quality.

Live from the 2026 Food Safety Summit—Part 1

Tue, 19 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400

In the first of this two-part episode series recorded live from the show floor of the 2026 Food Safety Summit, we interviewed Summit speakers from the regulatory and industry spheres about topics discussed during their respective sessions, including retail/foodservice sanitation and culture, digital HACCP, cross-sector data-sharing, and more.

Ladle Launches Mobile Traceability Platform for Multi-Location Foodservice Operations

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:42:58 -0400

TrackAssure captures lot-level records as a byproduct of daily operations, automatically generates FSMA 204-compliant documentation, and delivers audit-ready reports on demand.

FDA Researchers Find Substantial Fish Allergen Cross-Contact Risk from Breading Reuse

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

Breading mixtures may be reused for different foods in foodservice operations. An FDA-supported study found that both shrimp and cod allergens accumulate in reused breading and transfer to subsequent foods, although the cod cross-contact risk was much greater.

Better Use of Restaurant Inspection Data Could Help Prevent Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In a new peer-reviewed article, researchers make a case for linking data from both routine foodservice establishment inspections and foodborne illness surveillance, while acknowledging existing challenges, like inconsistent adoption of FDA’s Food Code and electronic data collection systems.

Report: ‘Ultra-Processed’ Classification Does Not Reliably Indicate Nutritional Value

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

However, ultra-processed foods were consistently more affordable and dominated total U.S. grocery sales. The report, commissioned by IFIC, suggests that dietary recommendations and discussions about UPFs must be grounded in real-world consumer behavior, rather than treating these products as easily avoidable, and consider nutritional value.

Parts Town Enhances Digital Tools to Help Foodservice Industry Find Equipment Repair Parts

Thu, 07 May 2026 13:42:04 -0400

The PartPredictor tool and other digital resources offered by Parts Town have been updated to better help foodservice industry users find the right Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, improve first-time fix rates, and reduce equipment downtime.

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.

Survey of U.S. Food Handlers Reveals Food Safety Knowledge Strengths, Opportunities to Improve Training

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:56:04 -0400

Conducted by NEHA and FDA, a survey of more than 2,700 retail food handlers has revealed strong food safety knowledge overall, with room for improvement in certain areas. The findings support recommendations for enhancing training programs.

Virginia Passes Law Requiring Allergen Markers on Delivery, Takeout Foods

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:32:39 -0400

Per the new law, restaurants must place an identifying marker on any food item prepared for delivery or takeout that has been altered or substituted due to a consumer-identified food allergy or sensitivity.

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.

Study Explores Whether an Area’s Density of ‘Healthy’ Food Retail Outlets Affects Foodborne Illness Risk

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The Canadian-based study represents some of the first evidence linking an area’s retail food environment, including the density of “healthy” and fast food outlets, with recorded food safety infractions as a proxy for foodborne illness risk.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Universities Offer Free Training Course for Retail Foodservice Compliance with FSMA 204

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:41:00 -0500

A group of universities has developed a free, four-hour training course to help small- and medium-sized businesses comply with FDA's Final Food Traceability Rule (FSMA 204).

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.

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.

Sabert Introduces Compostable, No-PFAS-Added Pulp Packaging for Foodservice

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:59:08 -0500

Sabert Corporation Europe has launched a line of fully home compostable and recyclable foodservice packaging that is free from intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and compliant with forthcoming EU sustainability regulations.

FDA Urges Industry to Improve Recall Efficiency After Delay in Removing ByHeart Formula from Stores

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:54:13 -0500

Considering the infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, during which product was found on store shelves weeks after the recall was announced, FDA issued a letter to industry describing firms’ legal obligations in the case of a recall, as well as warning letters to four major retailers (Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons).

11 States and Counting Have Adopted Most Recent FDA Food Code as of 2024

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:21:29 -0500

The newly published 2024 FDA Food Code Adoption Report outlines Food Code adoption status in U.S. states, territories, and tribes.

Fast Food Employee Survey Reveals Serious Food Safety Problems, Pressures to Work While Sick

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:14:32 -0400

In a survey of California fast food employees, 47 percent of respondents reported seeing serious food safety issues at work in the past year, more than half of which went knowingly unresolved by management, and 37 percent who reported food safety issues said they faced retaliation for doing so.

South Korean Study Finds Listeria Solely on Retail Beef Samples, Not on Farm

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:54:51 -0400

A recent study investigating Listeria monocytogenes in South Korea’s beef supply chain revealed the presence of the pathogen exclusively in retail product samples, underscoring the importance of strict food safety controls post-harvest. The strains isolated were hypervirulent and stress-adapted.

California Enacts Law Requiring Restaurants to Label Major Allergens on Menus

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:16:57 -0400

Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), titled, the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (ADDE), will apply to chain restaurants with 20 or more locations by January 1, 2026.

A Roadmap to Deliver Food Safety Excellence in Retail Foodservice

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The retail foodservice industry’s challenge in preventing foodborne illness comes from gaps in prevention—i.e., the interpretation, implementation, and execution of existing knowledge about root causes and hazards controls.

Safe Until Served: The Hidden Risks of RTE Foods in Retail

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This article explores the critical yet underappreciated vulnerabilities of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in retail and foodservice settings, including blind spots in handling practices, supplier-level failures, and the vital importance of reheating protocols and environmental controls.

Walmart to Remove 11 Colorants, 30 Additives From Store-Brand Foods

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:11:31 -0400

Walmart is the latest company to say it will remove synthetic dyes from its private-label food brands, as well as 30 other additives, including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes.

Study Explores Blockchain for Restaurant Food Traceability, Transparency

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:53:16 -0400

A University of Missouri research project is exploring the use of blockchain for improved traceability of food served at restaurants, and increased transparency for diners. The findings suggest that clear traceability information would increase consumers’ confidence in food safety.