News

UK High Court Finds FSA Charged Meat Industry Unlawful Inspection Rates

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

According to the ruling, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) included certain costs in its meat controls hourly rate and enforcement rate that were outside the scope of permissible charges under the applicable official controls legislation.

SSAFE Advocates for Future-Proofing Food System Through Holistic, Risk-Based Food Safety Approach

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:53:38 -0400

The knowledge paper, titled, “The Future of Food Safety,” was developed in partnership with a top FAO food safety official and written by a former Codex Chair.

FAO Researchers Explore How Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance Spreads in Gut Microbiome

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:15:00 -0400

The review summarized current knowledge about the potential contribution of foodborne bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to the human gut resistome, suggesting the integration of gut microbiome and AMR data into risk assessment frameworks.

Study Suggests Food Processing, Not Just Nutrient Content, May Affect Health Impacts of UPFs

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Tufts University researchers found that people who ate more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) had worse health outcomes, even after accounting for the overall nutritional quality of the foods.

WFSD 2026: Exclusive WHO Interview on New Global Foodborne Disease Estimates

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:45:00 -0400

Recognizing World Food Safety Day (WFSD) 2026 and the new estimates on the global burden of foodborne disease, WHO’s Elaine Borghi, Ph.D. discusses the development of the estimates and how they can be used to drive effective interventions that meaningfully improve food safety and public health.

New York, California Advance Baby Food, Infant Formula Testing Bills

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

The New York bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature, while the California bill advances from the Assembly to the Senate. The bills would require baby food and infant formula manufacturers to regularly test their products for toxic heavy metals and disclose results.

New GS1 US Guidance Helps Foodservice, Food Retail Companies Meet Packaging EPR Requirements

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Responding to new and expanding state-level Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging laws, GS1 US released a resource to help industry adapt.

Eight Sick, One Dead in Three-Year Listeria Outbreak Linked to Soft Cheese

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:41:39 -0400

The now-recalled requeson cheese was produced by Maryland-based Clover Hill Dairy. Patients have been identified in New York, Maryland, and Virginia, with the earliest illness occurring in early 2023 and the most recent in May 2026.

After Infant Botulism Outbreak, FDA Shares Root Cause Analysis Findings from ByHeart Formula Plants

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:44:19 -0400

FDA did not identify deficiencies in ByHeart’s production facilities that could explain the outbreak, but a powdered milk ingredient did test positive for C. botulinum. ByHeart is developing an action plan based on data generated from the investigations.

Global Foodborne Disease Burden Comparable to Malaria, Per Updated WHO Estimates

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:29:14 -0400

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its anticipated updated global burden of foodborne disease estimates, which suggest that 42 microbiological and chemical hazards caused approximately 866 million illnesses and 1.52 million deaths in 2021.

Survey Reveals How U.S. Consumers Use Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Commissioned by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and published at a time when FDA is considering a federally standardized FOP nutrition labeling scheme, the survey provides insight into what Americans are seeking from FOP nutrition labels.

Salmonella Cases in England Hit Highest Number Seen in a Decade

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:15:48 -0400

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that the number of Campylobacter and Salmonella infections in England remained high or increased in 2025, while listeriosis cases stayed stable from the previous year.

New Research Reveals Addictive Design, Health Harms of Ultra-Processed Foods; Calls for Systemic Change

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:15:00 -0400

A collection of studies and editorials published in the American Journal of Public Health presents one of the most comprehensive examinations to date of ultra-processed food (UPF) as a public health crisis shaped not only by nutrition, but by corporate practices, political influence, and regulation failures.

WHO Releases Data on the Proportion of Microbiological, Chemical Hazards that are Foodborne

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:04:39 -0400

The study was conducted to support the development of new global burden of foodborne disease estimates, which are going to be released on June 4, ahead of World Food Safety Day.

Asia Food Safety Forum 2026: Digitalization, Innovation, and Circularity in Food Safety

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Organized by UNIDO, the Asia Food Safety Forum will take place June 11–12, 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, fostering dialogue, promoting innovation, and strengthening regional cooperation to support safer, more sustainable, and more competitive food systems across the region.

Food Safety Five Ep. 32: From Sanitation to Food Processing, Cold Plasma Does It All

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses new research on the use of cold plasma technologies for biofilm inactivation and reducing allergenic risk, deriving more accurate “sell by” dates based on microbial changes on meat, and ultra-processed food nutrition and purchasing realities.

FAO, WHO Launch New Resources Ahead of World Food Safety Day

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:58:40 -0400

Ahead of World Food Safety Day, FAO and WHO have introduced a Food Safety Roadmap Development Tool and an online learning course on Codex-aligned risk assessments, supporting competent authorities and other stakeholders seeking to utilize science and data to improve national food safety systems.

Study Suggests Sweetener May Contribute to Liver Disease

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Researchers found that the sugar alcohol sorbitol can be turned into fructose, leading to fat accumulation in the liver. Gut bacteria may help protect against sorbitol-induced liver damage, but can be overwhelmed by excessive intake.

FDA Opens Third Salmonella–Moringa Outbreak Investigation of the Year

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 29 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The agency has also reopened a previously closed Salmonella outbreak investigation linked to powdered moringa supplements, with 22 new reported illnesses in four additional states.

FDA Engages Stakeholders on FSMA 204 Implementation With Questions About Lot-Level Traceability

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:30:00 -0400

The agency has released a discussion paper offering context and questions about the lot-level tracking requirements of the Food Traceability Rule to help shape engagements with industry, including a virtual public meeting in June.

Study is First to Analyze Trends in Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Linked to Non-Dairy Fermented Products

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Notable pathogen–food commodity pairings emerged, including Clostridium botulinum and Alaskan traditional fermented meats and fish. The analysis was conducted by FDA and CDC researchers.

FDA Modernizes Oversight of Pesticides in Food

Thu, 28 May 2026 13:13:47 -0400

The updated compliance program for pesticide residues includes a new focus on risk-based sampling of foods commonly consumed by young children and reflects procedural changes to the laboratory testing and analysis methods.

Vermont Enacts Food Chemical Laws: Herbicide Paraquat Banned, Baby Food Testing Now Mandatory

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 28 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

On May 26, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law two bills related to food chemical safety; specifically, the nation’s first state-level ban on paraquat (H.739) and legislation setting heavy metals testing and disclosure requirements for baby food manufacturers (H.536).

Researchers Investigate Antimicrobial Light, Optimal Sanitation Protocols for Produce Packinghouse Brushes

Thu, 28 May 2026 05:30:00 -0400

Studies funded by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) are investigating ways to improve produce packinghouse brush sanitation, including the use of antimicrobial light and choosing the best time to replace brushes.

Researchers Recommend UV-C for Norovirus Inactivation, Continuous Surface Disinfection

Thu, 28 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

A new study demonstrated the efficacy of far-UV-C light at 222 nm for inactivating human norovirus on surfaces. As it is safe for humans, researchers believe UV-C 222 could enable real-time, continuous disinfection in enclosed foodservice settings and food processing environments.

Bipartisan Bill Would Give FDA Authority to Destroy Contaminated Food Imports

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 27 May 2026 17:19:32 -0400

Highlighting contaminated seafood as a particular concern, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act answers FDA’s request for the authority to destroy food imports that do not pass safety inspections at the border, preventing importers from “port shopping” their unsafe products.

FDA Supports Grouping Several Phthalates for Cumulative Risk Assessment

Wed, 27 May 2026 12:19:46 -0400

FDA published a literature review on the eight phthalates currently approved for food contact uses to determine whether they should be considered chemically and/or pharmacologically related for the purpose of cumulative risk assessment.

UK Food Standards Agency Reviews Farm-to-Fork Campylobacter Interventions for Chicken

Wed, 27 May 2026 11:43:12 -0400

Campylobacter is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the UK, most frequently linked to contaminated chicken. The UK Food Standards Agency conducted a scientific assessment to consider possible future actions for reducing foodborne campylobacteriosis.

Researchers Demonstrate Usefulness of Emerging Detection Method for Carcinogenic Food Contaminant

Wed, 27 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are potentially carcinogenic compounds formed during high-heat cooking. An emerging testing method known as QuEChERS—which stands for “Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe”—is designed to overcome the limitations of conventional PAH tests.

Sweden Recommends Caffeine Limits for Adolescents

Tue, 26 May 2026 11:11:35 -0400

Due to the increased consumption of energy drinks and other caffeinated products among young people, the Swedish National Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) is introducing dietary guidelines for children and adolescents' caffeine consumption.