News

Codex Moves to Adopt Standardized Precautionary Allergen Labeling, Kicks UPFs Can Down the Road

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:22:46 -0400

During the 49^th Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL49), guidelines on risk-based precautionary allergen labeling, labeling for multipack foods, and emergency flexible labeling were recommended for adoption. CCFL also declined a proposal to initiate work related to ultra-processed foods.

CDC: Produce, Salmonella Drove Multistate Foodborne Enteric Disease Outbreaks in 2024

Tue, 19 May 2026 05:26:00 -0400

CDC has published a report summarizing the multistate enteric disease outbreaks it solved in 2024, of which 29 were foodborne, resulting in 1,533 illnesses, 519 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths.

FAO Highlights Food Safety Risks of Recycled, Renewable Plastics Used for Food Packaging

Mon, 18 May 2026 10:04:12 -0400

Chemical migration and microplastics shedding from recycled plastic food contact materials pose potential food safety concerns. Biopolymer risks are also not yet fully understood. The Codex Alimentarius Commission is considering developing guidance on recycled materials used in food packaging.

Donald Prater Becomes New Head of FDA Human Foods Program

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:08 -0400

Dr. Prater is taking over the position as the previous Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Kyle Diamantas, is elevated to the FDA Commissioner role, replacing Dr. Marty Makary.

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.

Top U.S. Food Safety Officials Discuss Regulatory Landscape at Food Safety Summit

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 14 May 2026 13:06:25 -0400

On Thursday morning, officials from FDA, USDA-FSIS, CDC, and AFDO took the stage at the 2026 Food Safety Summit Town Hall to talk about the current developments and priorities at their respective agencies.

Plasma-Activated Mist Shows Promise for Biofilm Removal in Food Facilities

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Researchers achieved microbial reductions of 1.56–1.64 log CFU/cm² by applying plasma-activated water and water–chemical solutions to dual-species E. coli biofilms on stainless steel, suggesting the technology’s potential as a sustainable, safe alternative to traditional sanitizer treatments.

FDA Encourages Industry to Develop Best Practices, Use Root Cause Analyses

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:30:48 -0400

The agency has released two new web resources to help stakeholders work with FDA as they develop best practices and implement root cause analyses.

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.

FDA Commissioner Steps Down, To Be Replaced by Agency’s Human Foods Leader

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:15:50 -0400

Marty Makary, M.D., has been ousted as FDA Commissioner. He will reportedly be replaced by the agency’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Kyle Diamantas, J.D.

FDA Finalizes Systematic Post-Market Food Chemical Review Process

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:16 -0400

The agency also announced the launch of reassessments for butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and azodicarbonamide (ADA).

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.

Australia, New Zealand Consider Mandatory Nutrition Star Ratings on Packaged Foods

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

FSANZ is accepting public comments on the proposed Health Star Rating, which is an interpretive front-of-pack nutrition labeling tool that summarizes a food’s overall nutritional profile using a simple star rating.

Scientists Tackle Food Waste with More Accurate ‘Sell By’ Dates Based on Meat Microbial Activity

Fri, 08 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Consumers often throw away meat that is still safe to eat based on the “sell by” date. Auburn University researchers are investigating methods to predict meat spoilage based on microbial activity, which would enable more accurate “sell by” dates.

FAIR Labels Act Would Restrict Language Used on Cell-Based, Plant-Based Meat Products

Thu, 07 May 2026 13:18:58 -0400

The bipartisan bill would prohibit the sale of “mislabeled” alternative protein products, requiring such products to bear “accurate” labels that clearly differentiate them from conventional meat and poultry.

Updated EU Food Chemical Safety Information Database Now Available

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:57:08 -0400

Drawing from EFSA risk assessments, OpenFoodTox provides structured summaries of hazard information for thousands of individual substances, including food additives and flavorings, pesticides, contaminants, and food contact materials.

New Mexico Bans ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Food Packaging, Cookware; Sets PFAS Labeling Rules

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 07 May 2026 09:15:56 -0400

New Mexico has published a final rule enforcing the New Mexico PFAS Protection Act, outlining a staggered prohibition on the sale of products containing intentionally added PFAS, and describing a PFAS warning label for products still containing the chemicals.

FDA Launches One-Day Inspectional Assessments

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:44:25 -0400

Piloting of these assessments began in April and will continue through fiscal year 2026 at facilities across FDA inspectorates, including human and animal foods. The assessments are short, focused screening assignments that complement standard FDA inspections.

Europeans Exposed to High Doses of Glycerol in Drinks, EFSA Recommends Setting Limits

Wed, 06 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

EFSA conducted an acute exposure assessment for glycerol in slushies and dealcoholized wine following reports of toddlers and young children experiencing glycerol intoxication due to excessive slushie consumption in a single sitting.

USDA-FSIS Publishes Revised Food Safety Guideline for Egg Products

Tue, 05 May 2026 12:46:17 -0400

The guideline is designed to help small and very small plants producing egg products meet the regulatory requirements under the Egg Products Inspection Regulations Final Rule, including sanitation and HACCP requirements.

Monitoring Data Show EU Food Mostly Compliant with Pesticide Limits

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:31:37 -0400

Based on the results of testing more than 125,000 food samples collected across Europe, compliance with EU pesticide maximum residue levels remains high, reported the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Food Safety Five Ep. 31: Rare, Unusual, and Emerging Foodborne Pathogens of Growing Concern

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 05 May 2026 05:30:00 -0400

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses several foodborne pathogens that have been recently highlighted by researchers due to their unusual nature, emergence, and increasing public health significance, including a rare Salmonella strain, an STEC/ETEC hybrid, Group B Streptococcus, and drug-resistant Shigella.

Australia to Develop Foodborne Campylobacter Action Plan

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 04 May 2026 10:34:07 -0400

The action plan would outline strategies to mitigate Campylobacter and reduce cases of foodborne illness. Those who are interested in contributing to the development of the action plan are invited to register to receive communications about stakeholder engagement.

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.

NASEM Seeks Experts for Membership in Food Forum

Fri, 01 May 2026 05:30:00 -0400

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM’s) Food Forum convenes scientists, administrators, and policymakers to explore issues and solutions related to food safety, regulation, and systems, as well as nutrition and health.

Study Links Pesticide Exposure to 150 Percent Higher Cancer Risk, Identifies Biological Mechanisms

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The findings, based on a novel approach and published in Nature Health, suggest that traditional chemical safety assessments may overlook combined exposures and real-life environmental conditions. Transcriptomic analysis implicated a non-genotoxic mode of action by which pesticides interfere with normal cell function and identity processes.

Raw Farm E. coli Outbreak Ends; Congress Questions Why FDA Never Used Mandatory Recall Authority

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:45:29 -0400

The E. coli outbreak involving Raw Farm unpasteurized dairy products has ended with one raw cheese sample matching isolates from a different 2025 outbreak. In an April 29 hearing, Congresspeople questioned whether U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy influenced FDA’s failure to mandate a recall.

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.

Results of Pilot for EU Food Additives Exposure Monitoring Program Published

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

None of the exposures to the five additives and flavorings assessed presented a health concern for the EU population. The pilot helped identify shortcomings in the monitoring framework that will be rectified for future reports.

Federal Preemption of State Food Safety Laws Debated During Congressional Hearing

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:42:08 -0400

In an April 29 Congressional hearing considering 28 active food safety bills, U.S. Representatives and witnesses from industry and consumer protection groups debated federal preemption of state food safety laws, GRAS and chemical ingredient oversight, and FDA–state information-sharing during outbreaks.