News

Bill Introduced to Amend FD&C Act to Require Gluten Labeling for Barley, Rye, Oats

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The bipartisan Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2026 would amend FDA's major food allergen labeling requirements to include barley, rye, and oats alongside wheat, in an effort to mitigate "hidden" exposure to gluten for consumers with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

Study Shows Promise of Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment for Poultry Decontamination

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Hydrogen peroxide treatment, followed by catalase enzyme application to remove residual peroxide, significantly reduced Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes on raw chicken wings while preserving the meat's overall color quality, although more research is needed on the effect on other organoleptic properties.

Senate Confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC Director

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:32:00 -0400

The Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz, M.D., J.D., M.P.H. as the new Director of CDC on August 5, making her the agency's first permanent leader in nearly a year. Dr. Schwartz previously served as Deputy Surgeon General during the first Trump administration and as Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Scientific Review Evaluates Blue Light-Mediated Photosensitization Across Food Applications

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:58:00 -0400

A new scientific review examines blue light-mediated photosensitization for antimicrobial intervention across various food sectors. The review notes the technology's promise as a nonthermal antimicrobial intervention for food safety and emphasizes the need for further studies to support scale-up across industry.

Regulatory Updates: GRAS Proposed Rule Clears OMB Review; FDA Sends UPF Whitepaper to OIRA

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:18:00 -0400

Two topics of increasing regulatory scrutiny—the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) rule and a federal definition of ultra-processed food (UPFs)—have seen some movement at the U.S. Government's Office of Management and Budget, signaling progress on the Trump administration's food policy agenda.

Chipotle Identifies Potential Connection Between Salmonella Outbreak and Jalapeños

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:30:00 -0400

The fast-casual Mexican-style restaurant chain has pulled the jalapeños from its restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers, out of "an abundance of caution."

FSIS Updates Veterinary Drug Residue Surveillance in Response to New World Screwworm

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:06:00 -0400

While New World screwworm (NWS) itself does not pose a food safety risk in edible meat or poultry products, residues from veterinary drugs used to treat and prevent infestations of NWS are potential chemical hazards.

State Counts for U.S. Cyclospora Cases Pass 21,000; Michigan Reports Two Deaths

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:38:00 -0400

Michigan and Ohio recently updated their case counts in a massive Cyclospora cayetanensis outbreak, bringing state-reported totals for all 50 states to at least 21,775 cases. Michigan also reported two deaths tied to the outbreak.

USDA-FSIS Updates Fiscal Guidance for State Cooperative Inspection Programs

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:42:00 -0400

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has issued a revised directive outlining financial management procedures for state cooperative inspection programs. The directive replaced fiscal guidance that had been in effect since March 2004.

Elizabeth Andoh-Kesson Named Director of GFSI

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:52:00 -0400

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has appointed Elizabeth Andoh-Kesson as Director, marking the next phase of the organization's leadership following her tenure as Interim Director.

Study Identifies Optimal Poultry Transport Cage Washing Conditions to Reduce Salmonella

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Transport cages are recognized as a potential source of cross-contamination in poultry slaughterhouses. The optimal washing water temperature and detergent concentration completely eliminated detectable Salmonella while greatly reducing indicator organisms. The identified parameters may improve food safety and operational efficiency.

Researchers Identify Plastic Food Contact Material Properties, Background Microbes that Influence Listeria Biofilm Persistence

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The findings suggest that pathogen persistence on plastic food contact surfaces is governed by the combined effects of material composition, engineered surface topography, and microbial ecology rather than any single factor.

FDA Announces FY 2027 VQIP, TPP User Fee Rates

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:02:05 -0400

FDA has announced the fiscal year (FY) 2027 user fee rates for importers approved to participate in the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) and accreditation and certification bodies interested in participating in the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program (TPP).

Senate Committee Advances Bernie Sanders’ Bill Targeting UPFs with Warning Labels, Research and Education

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:15:00 -0400

The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2025 would require health warning labels for certain foods and beverages, prohibit marketing of specified products to children, and expand federal nutrition research and education related to ultra-processed foods.

International Collaboration Drives Food Safety Systems Development in Latin America

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

Ten Latin American countries are developing national initiatives to strengthen food safety systems by integrating risk analysis into public policy and regulatory decision-making, through a regional project led by UN organizations and assisted by the University of Minnesota.

FDA to Centralize Administrative Functions, Generalize Inspectors

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:20:40 -0400

The notice formalizes proposed reorganization plans that surfaced in April 2025 amid the federal government-wide RIFs and the mass overhaul of HHS that occurred shortly after President Trump took office, spearheaded by DOGE.

Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus Receives 2026 Freezing Research Award

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:56:43 -0400

Over a more than three-decade career, Dr. Jaykus has advanced scientific understanding of foodborne viruses while helping the frozen food industry address complex food safety challenges.

Codex Receives Work Proposal to Establish Risk Analysis Framework for Diet-Related Diseases

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:30:00 -0400

Going beyond the “ultra-processed foods” debate, the proposal, submitted by observer organization IFT, asks Codex to develop a framework to discern which foods are promoting chronic disease risk from those that are not, building upon existing Codex food categories and risk analysis methods.

UK Food Safety Incidents Increased 14 Percent in 2025–26

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:15:00 -0400

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) attributed the increase to growing food systems complexity driven by global supply chains, cross-border distribution, and online marketplaces.

Congress Oversight Committee Probes Taylor Farms’ Alleged Attempts to Influence FDA’s Cyclospora Outbreak Investigation

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia cited media reports about alleged private meetings between Taylor Farms and White House and FDA officials, the company’s donations to Trump PACs ahead of the Food Traceability Rule delay, and its “contradictory and confusing” public statements about the cyclosporiasis outbreak.

First Dedicated Forum for Advancing AI in Food Safety Slated for 2027

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:51:05 -0400

Organized by a team from Wageningen University and Research, the inaugural AI for Food Safety Conference (AIFS) is set to take place on April 8–9, 2027 in Ede, the Netherlands.

England Saw 2,500 STEC Cases in 2025, Holding Steady with Previous Year

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:58:20 -0400

UKHSA said the relatively stable number of STEC notifications in 2025 marked a departure from the steady annual increases observed since 2021, when larger outbreaks contributed substantially to case counts.

Researchers Propose Listeria Biofilm Colonization Hypothesis to Explain Persistence in Food Processing Plants

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:24:53 -0400

A new hypothesis suggests Listeria monocytogenes persists by colonizing nutrient-rich voids left behind when Gram-negative bacterial biofilms disperse. If the theory is validated, the authors suggest shifting food safety strategies toward managing biofilm ecology and ecological succession, rather than focusing solely on pathogen detection.

EFSA Cites Significant Data Gaps in Risk Assessment for Emerging Brominated Flame Retardants in Food

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:47:36 -0400

The European Food Safety Authority published an updated scientific opinion on emerging and novel brominated flame retardants in food. Insufficient data prevented full risk assessments for most of the 27 chemicals evaluated.

WHO Identifies 18 Priority PFAS for Future Health Assessment Based on Dietary Exposure

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:49:01 -0400

The review also identifies six health effect categories for further evaluation as part of efforts to support the development of health-based values for the “forever chemicals.”

Nearly 100 Sick in Multistate Salmonella Outbreak, Millions of Eggs Recalled

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:26:47 -0400

Patients have fallen ill in 17 states, with 26 hospitalizations. Laboratory, epidemiological, and traceback investigations point to eggs produced by Texas-based Midwest Poultry Services as the likely vehicle of illness.

Taylor Farms Lettuce Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Expands to Nine States; CDC Reports Nearly 2,000 Cases, State Counts Exceed 10,000

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:47:50 -0400

At least 1,947 people infected with Cyclospora who had exposure to Taco Bell have been reported in nine states. Michigan and Ohio are together reporting more than 10,000 cyclosporiasis cases. FDA is investigating three other outbreak clusters.

Center for Produce Safety Releases Cyclospora Resources for Industry

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:42:12 -0400

The growing collection includes scientific publications and guidances on detection and viability methods, agricultural water monitoring and treatment, mitigation strategies, and the biology and epidemiology of the parasite.

Research Collaboration Produces Guidance for Controlling Spore-Forming Bacteria in Plant-Based Beverage Ingredients

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:23:31 -0400

The findings from a pre-competitive, industry–academia research collaboration provide a scientific foundation for discussions on quality standards and risk management in the plant-based dairy-alternative beverage sector.

GAO Examines Microplastics Sources, Health Concerns, and Policy Challenges

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:05:05 -0400

A new publication from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined the growing presence of microplastics in the environment and the human body, highlighting ongoing scientific uncertainty about their health effects while outlining recent federal efforts to better understand and reduce exposure.