In an October 31 webinar, Jim Jones, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, provided insight into the work of the Human Foods Program and how budgetary constraints are affecting its work.

As a result of Operation OPSON 2024—an EU-wide coordinated effort targeting fraudulent and counterfeit foods—22,000 tons of food and 850,000 liters of beverages, totaling €91 million, were removed from the market.

The dairy sector contributes significantly to the resilience and economic viability of farmers and rural communities. Most of the milk produced across the world comes from either independent, family-owned farms or smallholder farms and cooperatives, rather than from large, corporate farming operations.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been awarded £1.6 million in funding to research cell-cultured food safety and facilitate application support for manufacturers before these products can enter the UK market. 

UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) surveillance of food purchased at retail in 2023–2024 found 87 percent of samples to be compliant with food safety and authenticity standards. Undeclared allergens, adulteration, mislabeling, and other noncompliances were reported.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking stakeholder comment on a proposed guidance for industry regarding best practices for providing allergen information on non-prepackaged foods, such as in restaurants or at deli counters.

The Swedish Food Agency is now offering free, public access to its full suite of food safety education e-learning courses, which may be of interest to food business owners and food inspectors.

The European Commission’s annual report on EU Member States’ official food safety controls in 2022 highlighted successes, areas for improvement, and challenges.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a research project to develop methods for the detection of microplastic contamination, which will be used to assess the prevalence of and exposure levels to micro- and nanoplastics in Indian food.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published new guidance for industry on the submission of novel food applications, reflecting changes in the EU’s legal framework for novel foods.