Food Safety Top Stories

Malevolent, Misaligned, and Misused: How Emerging AI Threats Endanger the Biological and Business Foundations of Food Safety

nortora@auburn.edu (Robert A. Norton Ph.D.) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:15:27 -0400

AI-enhanced biosurveillance, integrated sensor networks, and intelligent analytics have been framed as critical enablers of safer, more efficient food systems. At the same time, the field has begun to acknowledge that the same tools that drive efficiency and predictive power can also be turned against the food system itself.

Ep. 219: World Food Safety Day 2026

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to WHO’s Dr. Elaine Borghi about the new global foodborne disease burden estimates, updates to the methodology, key insights from the data, and the importance of using data to target food safety interventions, aligning with the WFSD theme “From Burden to Solutions—Safe Food Everywhere.”

How On-Farm Animal Well-Being Shapes Food Safety Outcomes

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:00:00 -0400

This article explores how animal well-being on farms directly impacts food safety outcomes and what veterinarians wish food processors knew (and vice versa) about the risks and safeguards.

New Cleaning Agent for Food Facilities May Improve the Bottom Line

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:18:36 -0400

IAFNS-supported researchers have developed a low-moisture cleaning solution that is not only effective and less of a hazard for workers and plants, but also has the potential to save cleaning time.

Prop 65: Are You Worried About Chemical Hazards?

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A law to protect the public health is a good idea, but it should be based on a risk assessment—i.e., whether exposure to the chemical really elicits an adverse reaction. Perhaps it is time to update or rethink California's Prop 65.

Are You Prepared for Your Next Audit?

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Each food processor, ingredient manufacturer, beverage manufacturer, or food hander should develop, document, implement, and maintain a program that focuses on how to prepare for and deal with an audit.

Ep. 218. Dr. Brady Carter: Water Activity, Shelf-Life Validation, and Food Safety Controls

Tue, 26 May 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to water activity specialist and researcher Dr. Brady Carter about the importance of understanding water activity for shelf-life prediction, enhancing food safety and quality, and improving food system sustainability.

Rethinking Food Safety Training: Putting the Consumer at the Table

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

To date, food safety training has emphasized compliance rather than prioritizing the end consumer. This approach has served its purpose, but it is time to (figuratively) bring the consumer into the training room and redesign food safety education and training with a sharper focus and impact.

Proactive Food Safety Management Needs to be a Strategic Business Priority

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Elizabeth Andoh-Kesson, Interim Director of GFSI, says that as climate-related food risks grow, businesses cannot simply rely on a reactive approach to food safety.

Food Fraud Prevention Meets Supply Chain Digitalization: Why Old Systems are Not Enough

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Supply chains are going digital, omnichannel operations are becoming the norm, and automation is everywhere. This should be good news for food fraud prevention. More data should mean more visibility, but in reality, it also creates more opportunities for both prevention and exploitation.

Ep. 217. Larry Keener: Learnings From an Award-Winning Career in Food Safety

Tue, 12 May 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to internationally regarded microbiologist and process authority—and Food Safety Magazine’s 2026 Distinguished Award Recipient—Larry Keener, about the highlights of his career, important food safety developments, and advice for early-career professionals.

Flowers for the Heroes in Hairnets: Boosting the Profession of Food Safety

Mon, 11 May 2026 05:30:00 -0400

Food safety professionals need better PR, not only to give credit where credit is due but also to ensure that a consistent stream of young talent is entering and innovating in the field.

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.

SecureFood School: Transforming Food System Risk Science into Real-World Education

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Strengthening food system resilience requires not only technological innovation, but also an improved societal understanding of food system dynamics and risks.

When Dead Bacteria Trigger False Alarms: Rethinking a Common "Live–Dead" Test

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article discusses the problem of false positive results when using propidium monoazide (PMA) in PCR testing for food safety.

Food Safety Insights and the 2026 Food Safety Summit

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

This article previews upcoming sessions at the 2026 Food Safety Summit and ties in topical learnings from recent Food Safety Insights columns.

Ep. 216. Sandro Tarchini: Driving Global Food Traceability, Authenticity with Blockchain

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Sandro Tarchini of the Cardano Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the blockchain ecosystem, about the applications for blockchain throughout the food supply chain and how it can improve farm-to-retail traceability and transparency.

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.

Breaking Silos, Breaking Bias: Advancing Real Collaboration in Food Safety

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:15:00 -0400

The session “Breaking Silos, Breaking Bias—Real Collaboration in Food Safety,” taking place on May 13 during the upcoming Food Safety Summit, will candidly discuss why cross-sector collaboration often falls short and offer practical solutions for breaking down barriers.

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.

Best Practice Considerations to Enhance the Effectiveness of Allergen Cleaning and Validation

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article examines how the development and validation of effective cleaning practices are imperative to prevent allergen cross-contact in food processing environments.

Riding the Wave: Seafood Sector Must Embrace Sustainability and Safety to Ensure Success

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In the fight against food insecurity, seafood is an essential source of protein. Growing the responsibly produced seafood supply depends on every part of the value chain. Industry must ensure that operational models meet evolving market expectations, and then properly leverage them to drive profitability and success.

Ep. 215. Stalker and Terada: Aligning Culture, Risk, and Operations at the Food Safety Summit

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to two industry leaders and Food Safety Summit Editorial Advisory Board members about managing food safety programs across large-scale, global operations; upcoming Summit sessions on imported food safety risks and food safety culture; and advice for early-career food safety professionals.

Why Middle Managers Hold the Key to Food Safety

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article discusses how the overlooked sub-group of middle management plays a large part in determining culture, execution, and risk performance.

Monitoring and Recordkeeping: The Heart of HACCP

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Monitoring and recordkeeping are the heart of HACCP. Records demonstrate that the program is being properly managed and that the established critical limits are being met, providing supporting data to show that the processor is producing safe foods.

Food Innovation: An Introduction to Precision Fermentation

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Precision fermentation has the potential to improve food security, promote sustainable food production, and support the food sector as an important driver of economic growth. The biotechnology behind precision fermentation is likely to become progressively visible, and its role in food manufacturing will become increasingly important. 

Leveraging AI for Food Safety Without Becoming its Victim

nortora@auburn.edu (Robert A. Norton Ph.D.) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article examines the need to always engage subject matter experts in the analysis of AI results for food safety in the context of biosurveillance and cognitive security.

Improving the Safety of Hydroponic Crops: Evaluation of Strategies to Mitigate Human Pathogens in Hydroponic Production

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article looks at food safety in hydroponic agriculture, including interventions used in hydroponic crop production to control pathogenic contamination.

Ep. 214. Chris McGarvey: UK/EU Food Regulatory Changes on the Horizon

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to UK food law expert Chris McGarvey about the implications of dynamic UK/EU regulatory trends and how businesses can navigate changing legislation related to trade, food substances, novel foods and technologies, and allergen labeling.

The Connection Between Psychosocial Factors and Food Safety Outcomes

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article explores the psychosocial factors of food safety culture, as discussed in a food safety culture workshop at the 2025 Food Safety Summit.