Explore the freshest and most trending topics currently making waves in the Food Safety Industry. Dive into the latest buzz, timely insights, and noteworthy content that's driving our industry forward. https://www.food-safety.com/rss/85-food-safety-top-stories en-us As FDA expands its oversight of food contaminants, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors must understand evolving regulatory expectations and take proactive steps to identify, monitor, and mitigate contamination risks. As FDA expands its oversight of food contaminants, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors must understand evolving regulatory expectations and take proactive steps to identify, monitor, and mitigate contamination risks.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11969 Thu, 29 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11969-proactive-prevention-of-food-contaminants-a-review-of-fda-guidance-and-expectations In this episode of Food Safety Matters, Adam Holt, BCE, Founder and Principal Consultant of NameDatBug, discusses common pest management vulnerabilities in food facilities, best practices for integrated pest management (IPM), and the benefits and limitations of electronic monitoring and AI. He also shares strategies for improving audit readiness and adapting to emerging pest pressures. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, Adam Holt, BCE, Founder and Principal Consultant of NameDatBug, discusses common pest management vulnerabilities in food facilities, best practices for integrated pest management (IPM), and the benefits and limitations of electronic monitoring and AI. He also shares strategies for improving audit readiness and adapting to emerging pest pressures.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11932 Tue, 27 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11932-ep-228-adam-holt-bce-smarter-pest-management-from-ipm-to-ai rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) A comprehensive receiving program is a food processor's first line of defense against food safety and security risks. Key considerations include shipment verification, transportation inspections, temperature controls, allergen management, documentation, and personnel training. A comprehensive receiving program is a food processor's first line of defense against food safety and security risks. Key considerations include shipment verification, transportation inspections, temperature controls, allergen management, documentation, and personnel training.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11957 Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11957-receiving-the-first-line-of-defense-for-food-safety A practical self-assessment can help food safety teams identify and address psychosocial conditions that affect frontline performance. A practical self-assessment can help food safety teams identify and address psychosocial conditions that affect frontline performance.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11954 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11954-from-insight-to-action-a-practical-self-assessment-guide-to-improve-food-safety-through-your-psychosocial-environment Unlike allergen control programs, GMO control relies primarily on supplier verification and traceability rather than routine analytical testing. Survey findings reveal how food processors approach GMO control, while evolving traceability requirements could reshape testing practices and market demand in the coming years. Unlike allergen control programs, GMO control relies primarily on supplier verification and traceability rather than routine analytical testing. Survey findings reveal how food processors approach GMO control, while evolving traceability requirements could reshape testing practices and market demand in the coming years.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11941 Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11941-allergens-and-gmo-what-is-happening-in-control-programspart-2 A strong food safety culture means maintaining the same standards whether or not an auditor is watching. Unannounced audits can help reinforce that expectation across an organization. A strong food safety culture means maintaining the same standards whether or not an auditor is watching. Unannounced audits can help reinforce that expectation across an organization.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11936 Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11936-the-role-of-unannounced-audits-in-strengthening-food-safety-culture Whole genome sequencing is a mature, reliable technology with significant potential for the food industry, but realizing its benefits requires organizations to strategically weigh risks, applications, and persistent legal and regulatory barriers to adoption. Whole genome sequencing is a mature, reliable technology with significant potential for the food industry, but realizing its benefits requires organizations to strategically weigh risks, applications, and persistent legal and regulatory barriers to adoption.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11934 Mon, 19 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11934-whole-genome-sequencing-in-food-safety-non-technical-systems-barriers-and-opportunities-for-enhanced-global-use Artificial intelligence offers new opportunities across food safety operations, but successful adoption depends on reliable data, digital readiness, workforce preparation, and appropriate oversight. Artificial intelligence offers new opportunities across food safety operations, but successful adoption depends on reliable data, digital readiness, workforce preparation, and appropriate oversight.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11923 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11923-the-ai-transformation-in-food-production-is-your-facility-prepared In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss how food companies can move beyond audit preparation to achieve continuous audit readiness, including gap assessments, identifying systemic issues, strengthening accountability and culture, Lean Six Sigma, meaningful KPIs, supporting sustainable operational excellence. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss how food companies can move beyond audit preparation to achieve continuous audit readiness, including gap assessments, identifying systemic issues, strengthening accountability and culture, Lean Six Sigma, meaningful KPIs, supporting sustainable operational excellence. 

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11894 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11894-ep-227-michael-ciepiela-gap-assessments-audit-readiness-and-continuous-improvement Formal food safety training builds essential knowledge, but informal, on-the-job learning may be key to turning that knowledge into consistent food safety practices. Formal food safety training builds essential knowledge, but informal, on-the-job learning may be key to turning that knowledge into consistent food safety practices.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11915 Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11915-closing-the-knowingdoing-gap-informal-training-and-food-safety-outcomes BlumeA@bnpmedia.com (Adrienne Blume, M.A.) Publishing feature articles on a weekly basis allows us to bring technical information on need-to-know topics to you faster, in a more easily accessible format. Publishing feature articles on a weekly basis allows us to bring technical information on need-to-know topics to you faster, in a more easily accessible format. 
 

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11908 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11908-a-note-from-the-editorial-director-welcome-to-our-new-web-first-features-collection When a potential recall emerges, strategic communications can help organizations create clarity amid rapidly evolving information. Five key questions can help guide decision-making during the critical first 24 hours. When a potential recall emerges, strategic communications can help organizations create clarity amid rapidly evolving information. Five key questions can help guide decision-making during the critical first 24 hours.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11892 Tue, 06 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11892-a-potential-recall-is-on-the-tablenow-what-what-the-first-24-hours-reveal-about-strategic-communications Moving from compliance to capability requires more than training; it requires leadership buy-in that enables better food safety decisions under pressure. Moving from compliance to capability requires more than training; it requires leadership buy-in that enables better food safety decisions under pressure.
 

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11888 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11888-building-leadership-buy-in-for-food-safety As consumer interest in raw milk grows, questions persist about its safety and purported nutritional and health benefits. Examining the evidence can help producers, consumers, and regulators distinguish established risks from emerging science and unsupported claims.  As consumer interest in raw milk grows, questions persist about its safety and purported nutritional and health benefits. Examining the evidence can help producers, consumers, and regulators distinguish established risks from emerging science and unsupported claims.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11874 Thu, 01 Oct 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11874-raw-milk-under-the-microscope-separating-safety-risks-from-nutritional-claims nortora@auburn.edu (Robert A. Norton Ph.D.) This article introduces Auburn University’s AU-BISR System, which is governed by a unifying Biosurveillance, Biointelligence, and Biosecurity (B3) operational architecture. AU-BISR is a directly applicable early-warning architecture for the food system to prevent foodborne illnesses and recalls before they occur. This article introduces Auburn University’s AU-BISR System, which is governed by a unifying Biosurveillance, Biointelligence, and Biosecurity (B3) operational architecture. AU-BISR is a directly applicable early-warning architecture for the food system to prevent foodborne illnesses and recalls before they occur.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11872 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11872-from-farm-to-threat-integrating-biosurveillance-biointelligence-and-biosecurity-b3-into-the-food-safety-enterprisepart-1 The 11th Circuit's Upside Foods decision has narrowed the path for federal preemption challenges to state cultivated meat bans, with significant implications for state regulation, interstate commerce, and food industry compliance. The 11^th Circuit's Upside Foods decision has narrowed the path for federal preemption challenges to state cultivated meat bans, with significant implications for state regulation, interstate commerce, and food industry compliance.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11870 Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11870-after-upside-foods-implications-for-state-cultivated-meat-bans-federal-preemption-and-industry-compliance Foodborne illness prevention does not happen by chance. It depends on a workforce that is trained, credentialed, data-enabled, and supported by coordinated federal investment. These are the conditions that allow prevention to occur consistently across jurisdictions and over time—and current workforce research suggests each is under pressure. Foodborne illness prevention does not happen by chance. It depends on a workforce that is trained, credentialed, data-enabled, and supported by coordinated federal investment. These are the conditions that allow prevention to occur consistently across jurisdictions and over time—and current workforce research suggests each is under pressure.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11858 Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11858-prevention-is-not-automatic-building-the-workforce-behind-food-safety The question is no longer whether AI will enter food safety and GMP environments; it already has. The more important question is how it can be used without weakening the controls on which these systems depend. The question is no longer whether AI will enter food safety and GMP environments; it already has. The more important question is how it can be used without weakening the controls on which these systems depend.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11848 Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11848-ai-in-food-safety-and-gmp-systems-practical-applications-limitations-and-compliance-considerations In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak about gluten-free food safety from the perspectives of a person with celiac disease, a consumer advocate, and a food manufacturer, including gluten-free labeling requirements, food safety controls, gaps in U.S. labeling regulations, and policy discussions around cross-contact, precautionary labeling, thresholds, and "free-from" claims. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak about gluten-free food safety from the perspectives of a person with celiac disease, a consumer advocate, and a food manufacturer, including gluten-free labeling requirements, food safety controls, gaps in U.S. labeling regulations, and policy discussions around cross-contact, precautionary labeling, thresholds, and "free-from" claims.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11812 Tue, 22 Sep 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11812-ep-226-jules-shepard-from-celiac-disease-advocacy-to-gluten-free-food-manufacturing Root cause analysis can turn routine food safety deviations into opportunities to identify systemic weaknesses, strengthen preventive controls, and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Root cause analysis can turn routine food safety deviations into opportunities to identify systemic weaknesses, strengthen preventive controls, and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11833 Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11833-corrective-actions-as-preventive-intelligence-embedding-root-cause-analysis-into-everyday-food-safety-management FDA’s CORE+EP team conducts outbreak surveillance, investigation, mitigation, and post-response initiatives for products regulated by the Human Foods Program, including the analysis of outbreak data for food safety decision-making and sharing outbreak findings with food safety stakeholders. FDA’s CORE+EP team conducts outbreak surveillance, investigation, mitigation, and post-response initiatives for products regulated by the Human Foods Program, including the analysis of outbreak data for food safety decision-making and sharing outbreak findings with food safety stakeholders. 

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11831 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11831-lessons-learned-from-outbreaks-publications-and-reports-from-fdas-coreep-in-fy-2025 rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) Developing an effective HACCP program requires more than following the seven principles. Management commitment, document control, prerequisite programs, training, and other foundational elements are essential to building and maintaining a robust HACCP system. Developing an effective HACCP program requires more than following the seven principles. Management commitment, document control, prerequisite programs, training, and other foundational elements are essential to building and maintaining a robust HACCP system.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11823 Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11823-building-a-haccp-program-more-than-the-seven-principles Recall activity in 2026 is sending a clear message that the industry is not facing isolated failures, but rather recurring breakdowns in the systems designed to prevent them. Manufacturers must prioritize four critical areas to minimize the risk of product contamination and recalls heading into 2027. Recall activity in 2026 is sending a clear message that the industry is not facing isolated failures, but rather recurring breakdowns in the systems designed to prevent them. Manufacturers must prioritize four critical areas to minimize the risk of product contamination and recalls heading into 2027.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11819 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11819-unpacking-the-2026-recall-landscape-and-preparing-for-q4 Food safety education must move beyond delivering knowledge to give learners opportunities to practice applying what they know. Food safety education must move beyond delivering knowledge to give learners opportunities to practice applying what they know.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11815 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11815-we-taught-it-but-can-they-use-it This article focuses on two main questions: first, why do food safety failures persist in high-velocity manufacturing settings despite the presence of comprehensive technical controls? And secondly, how do organizational beliefs and governance models influence ongoing risk exposure in these environments? This article focuses on two main questions: first, why do food safety failures persist in high-velocity manufacturing settings despite the presence of comprehensive technical controls? And secondly, how do organizational beliefs and governance models influence ongoing risk exposure in these environments? 

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11811 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11811-fundamental-beliefs-as-underlying-risk-catalyst-in-high-velocity-food-manufacturing This article explores the application of pre-wash and other food hygiene processes to raw agricultural products to implement food safety measures sooner in the production and processing of raw agricultural commodities. This article explores the application of pre-wash and other food hygiene processes to raw agricultural products to implement food safety measures sooner in the production and processing of raw agricultural commodities. 

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11802 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11802-when-should-you-start-the-conversion-of-agricultural-commodities-to-food-particularly-for-fresh-cut-items In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness Mentorship Program and its role in supporting professional growth in food safety, including lessons from the mentor-mentee experience, the value of perspectives outside one's own organization, and how mentorship can strengthen leadership, communication, and collaboration across the profession. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness Mentorship Program and its role in supporting professional growth in food safety, including lessons from the mentor-mentee experience, the value of perspectives outside one's own organization, and how mentorship can strengthen leadership, communication, and collaboration across the profession.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11767 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 02:30:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11767-ep-225-yasuda-boeffard-boyce-the-stop-alliance-mentorship-program-lessons-learned-and-collaborations-shared As regulatory requirements continue to evolve and consumer expectations increase, organizations across the fresh produce supply chain must adopt a proactive approach to risk management that emphasizes prevention, verification, transparency, and continuous improvement. As regulatory requirements continue to evolve and consumer expectations increase, organizations across the fresh produce supply chain must adopt a proactive approach to risk management that emphasizes prevention, verification, transparency, and continuous improvement. 

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11791 Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11791-managing-risk-from-seed-to-shelf-a-comprehensive-approach-to-fresh-produce-food-safety This article explores how rapid detection technologies are transforming environmental monitoring programs for L. monocytogenes in dairy plants. It also discusses how faster detection supports quicker sanitation verification, improved risk-based monitoring, and more effective decision-making during contamination events. This article explores how rapid detection technologies are transforming environmental monitoring programs for L. monocytogenes in dairy plants. It also discusses how faster detection supports quicker sanitation verification, improved risk-based monitoring, and more effective decision-making during contamination events.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11781 Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11781-when-minutes-matter-rapid-detection-of-listeria-in-dairy-processing-environments As discussed at the 2024 Global Food Safety Symposium at Michigan State University, resilient food safety systems are not built by one technology, one regulation, or one training program. They come from sustained investment in people, partnerships, scientific excellence, and institutions that can respond to evolving risks. As discussed at the 2024 Global Food Safety Symposium at Michigan State University, resilient food safety systems are not built by one technology, one regulation, or one training program. They come from sustained investment in people, partnerships, scientific excellence, and institutions that can respond to evolving risks.

]]> http://www.food-safety.com/articles/11779 Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11779-food-safety-without-borders-building-knowledge-networks-for-global-cooperation