FDA Testing Shows U.S. Infant Formula Is Safe, with Undetectable or Very Low Chemical Contamination
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released results from its largest chemical‑contamination test of infant formula, analyzing 312 samples from 16 brands. The overwhelming majority showed undetectable or very low levels of heavy metals, PFAS, pesticides and phthalates, all well below EPA drinking‑water limits. Notably, mercury was absent in 95% of samples and PFOS, the most common PFAS, appeared in half of the products at trace picogram levels. A separate test of 110 donor‑milk samples revealed far higher detection rates of the same contaminants, underscoring the distinct safety profile of commercial formulas.
WHO Estimates a $46 Return for Every $1 Investment in National Foodborne Disease Surveillance
The World Health Organization reports that every $1 USD spent on national food‑borne disease surveillance can generate $46 in public‑health value. Analyzing 17 low‑ and middle‑income countries, WHO found that a $492 million ten‑year investment could avert 19 million illnesses and 13,000 deaths,...
EU Introduces Regulations for Crops Bred Through New Genomic Techniques
The European Commission has approved a new regulatory framework for crops bred with new genomic techniques (NGTs), pending European Parliament ratification and slated to take effect in mid‑2028. The rules create two categories: Category 1 plants, which are treated like conventional...
Study Finds Cold Plasma Treatment Reduces Peanut Allergenicity
Researchers at McGill University demonstrated that cold plasma treatment can slash the immunoreactivity of whole peanut protein by nearly 70 percent after a 25‑minute exposure. The process altered protein structures, making them more digestible while preserving functional properties essential for...
Saudi FDA Advances Global Food Safety Cooperation at IHFAF
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) led a high‑profile delegation at the Seventh International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF) in Auckland, focusing on risk communication. Dr. Hisham Aljadhey held bilateral meetings with food‑safety agencies from the Netherlands, the...
Bill Reintroduced to Overhaul Front-of-Pack Food Labels, Ingredients Lists
The Food Labeling Modernization Act was reintroduced in the House by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, aiming to overhaul front‑of‑package nutrition labels and ingredient lists that haven’t been updated since the 1990s. The bill would require a...
Congress to Hold Legislative Hearing on 28 Active Bills Related to Food Safety, FDA
On April 29, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing to examine 28 active bills addressing food‑safety oversight and FDA authority. The legislation spans issues such as GRAS determinations, modernizing food labeling, infant formula safety, dietary supplement...
Fatal French HUS Outbreak Caused by Globally Emerging, Hybrid E. Coli Strain Affected Only Adults
A 2025 outbreak in France linked to a novel hybrid STEC/ETEC Escherichia coli strain caused 18 confirmed adult infections, with more than 90% developing hemolytic uremic syndrome and three deaths. The pathogen, serotype O77:g:K92:H18, was traced to a raw cow’s...
Higher Temperatures, Fat Content May Increase Chemical Migration From Biodegradable Food Packaging
A multi‑university study examined migration of non‑intentionally added substances from biodegradable food‑contact films made of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA) and their blends. Migration was negligible at refrigeration (20 °C) and room‑temperature (40 °C) conditions but became measurable at 70 °C, though...
New York Poised to Ban Certain Food Additives, Require GRAS Ingredient Transparency
New York’s Senate and Assembly have passed the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, banning red dye 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben in foods sold in the state. The bill also mandates that manufacturers disclose safety data for any GRAS (Generally...
FAO Highlights Importance of Group B Streptococcus ST283 as Atypical Foodborne Disease
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has flagged Group B Streptococcus ST283 as an atypical, food‑borne pathogen linked to freshwater fish. Unlike classic gastro‑intestinal illnesses, ST283 can cause invasive conditions such as meningitis, septic arthritis and bacteremia, even in healthy individuals....
Stakeholders Say Codex Emergency Food Labeling Provisions Could Compromise Infant Formula Safety
At the 49th Codex Committee on Food Labeling in Ottawa, U.S.-led experts will review draft "Guidelines on the Application of Food Labeling Provisions in Emergencies." The proposals would allow temporary, risk‑based deviations from standard labeling for pre‑packed foods and non‑retail...
EFSA Announces Third WGS Food Safety Conference
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Inter‑European Union Reference Laboratories will host the third Science Meets Policy conference on September 2‑3, 2026 in Rome. The event, themed “From Regulation to Practice—Turning WGS into Action for Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation,” will...
Despite Differences in Processed Food Categorization Systems, Consistent Health, Nutrition Associations Emerge
A Johns Hopkins study compared four major food‑processing classification systems—NOVA, WHO IARC, IFIC, and UNC—using 2017‑18 NHANES data on 4,605 items. While the systems diverged in how many foods they labeled highly processed, they consistently linked higher consumption of highly...
FDA Finds E. Coli in Raw Farm Cheese Matching a Second Outbreak
The FDA confirmed the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in a Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese sample, but the strain matches a closed 2025 outbreak rather than the ongoing nine‑case outbreak affecting California, Texas and Florida. The current outbreak, largely among...
Study Shows Poor Recovery of Listeria Using Cotton Swabs for Environmental Monitoring
A study by Universitat Politècnica de València published in Foods found that sponge samplers with neutralizer broth dramatically outperformed traditional cotton swabs for detecting Listeria monocytogenes in a ready‑to‑eat facility. In field tests, sponges identified Listeria spp. in 30% of...
Persistent, Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Strain Is Growing Cause of Poultry Contamination, Human Infections
A multidrug‑resistant Salmonella Infantis strain, REPJFX01, has surged in U.S. chicken and human cases since 2016, reaching 97% of poultry isolates in 2023. The strain carries a pESI‑like plasmid that confers resistance to key antibiotics and enhances environmental persistence. Hospitalization...
Sustainable Fertilizer Practice Causes Increased Cadmium in Rice, Study Shows
A study by Wageningen University published in Nature Food shows that large‑scale recycling of manure in Chinese paddy fields raises soil cadmium, which eventually accumulates in rice. While manure reduces soil acidification and cuts mineral phosphorus fertilizer use, it also...
FDA Finds Adulteration in 4 Percent of Honey Samples
The FDA’s 2025 honey sampling program found that 4 percent of the 102 samples tested were adulterated, with two domestic and two imported batches failing carbon isotope analysis. The agency’s stable carbon isotope ratio method flags honey that contains cheaper...
Novel Phage Effectively Inhibits Antimicrobial-Resistant Salmonella, Biofilms on Food, Surfaces
Researchers at Gansu Agricultural University have identified a novel lytic bacteriophage, W5, that effectively targets antimicrobial‑resistant Salmonella across multiple food matrices. The phage remains stable at temperatures up to 50 °C and across a pH range of 3‑13, achieving 98% host...
Study Evaluates Pathogen Reductions on Microgreens Treated with UV-C
A recent MDPI Foods study examined post‑harvest ultraviolet‑C (UV‑C) treatment on sunflower and radish microgreens inoculated with Salmonella, STEC and Listeria. Bidirectional exposure at 10 cm for 120 seconds achieved the greatest reductions—up to 3.1 log for Salmonella, 3.0 log for STEC and 2.0 log...
Global Survey Highlights Gaps and Opportunities in Food Safety Training
The Ninth Global Food Safety Training Survey of more than 3,000 sites reveals that most companies still rely on paper‑based or spreadsheet records, with only 21.5% using digital learning‑management systems. Adoption of advanced tools is low—just 10.2% employ VR/AR and...
FDA Launches BRIDGE Project to Modernize Food Facility Inspections
The FDA has launched the Better Regulatory Inspections for Dynamic Government Efficiency (BRIDGE) Project to overhaul how domestic food facility inspections are planned, executed, and coordinated. The initiative introduces a data‑driven, risk‑based framework that aligns federal and state oversight, aiming...
Abundant Drug Resistance Genes in Retail Foods Pose ‘Significant Public Health Concern,’ Researchers Find
Researchers from the University of Tennessee, FDA and University of Illinois used metagenomic sequencing and qPCR to map antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in retail cabbage, lettuce, chicken legs and deli meats across Memphis. All samples harbored diverse ARGs, with multidrug...
FDA FY 2027 Budget Request Includes $57 Million for ‘MAHA’
The FY 2027 Presidential Budget proposes a $57 million allocation for the FDA's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, targeting unsafe chemicals, AI‑driven safety tools, and alternatives to animal testing. FDA’s Human Foods Program receives a $108.5 million boost, bringing its authority to...
CRISPR-Edited Wheat Leads to Reduced Acrylamide Without Yield Loss
Scientists at Rothamsted Research have used CRISPR/Cas9 to create wheat lines with dramatically lower free asparagine, achieving reductions of up to 93% while maintaining normal yield and protein levels. Field trials showed that bread and biscuits made from the edited...
Testing Confirms Microbiological, Chemical Safety of Canadian Infant Formula, Children’s Foods
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency released its latest testing results, confirming that the vast majority of infant formula, children’s foods, and other consumer products meet safety standards. The 2024‑25 National Microbiological Monitoring Program performed 12,641 tests on 5,305 products, achieving...
Raw Farm Recalls Unpasteurized Cheese While Denying Link to E. Coli Outbreak
Raw Farm LLC issued a voluntary recall of certain raw cheddar cheese batches, stating the action is taken under protest and disputing the FDA’s epidemiological link to a recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. The outbreak has sickened nine individuals, primarily...
Center for Food Safety Opposes Monsanto–Bayer Legal Efforts to Preempt State Pesticide Warnings
A coalition led by the Center for Food Safety filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case Monsanto v. Durnell, urging the Court to preserve state authority to require pesticide health warnings. The brief challenges Bayer’s effort to preempt...
Codex Committee Advances Work on Standards for Veterinary Drug Residues in Food
The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) concluded its 28th session in Minneapolis, advancing several key standards. It introduced the first maximum residue limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs in camelid tissues, including tetracyclines and ivermectin. The...
FDA’s Human Foods Program Publishes Priority Scientific Needs to Advance Food Safety
The FDA’s Human Foods Program has released a prioritized list of scientific research, data, and method needs aimed at strengthening food safety across the United States. The list spans nutrition, human behavior, microbiological detection, chemical hazards, risk assessment, and economically...
EPA Addresses Microplastics, PFAS in Drinking Water; HHS to Study Microplastics in Humans
The EPA announced that microplastics, PFAS, pharmaceuticals and additional chemicals will be added to the Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6) for drinking water. The draft list is open for public comment for 60 days, with a final version expected by...
Latest FDA Post-Investigation Summary for Mango Salmonella Outbreak Redacts Key Details
The FDA released an Executive Incident Summary confirming a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to mangoes that caused 56 reported illnesses, but it redacted the importer, country of origin, and affected states. The investigation traced a common importer yet could not...
Australia Approves New Restrictions on Caffeine Ingredients
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) approved proposal P1056, tightening caffeine regulations in Australia. The new code bans retail sale of caffeine as a standalone food, restricts adding caffeine to foods, and limits high‑caffeine guarana extracts. Packaged coffee drinks must...
Drug-Resistant Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Moringa Supplements Ends, Root Cause Remains Unknown
The FDA closed a drug‑resistant Salmonella outbreak tied to Rosabella‑brand moringa powder capsules after ten illnesses were reported in eight states, including three hospitalizations. The strains, Salmonella Newport and Kentucky, were resistant to all standard antibiotics. A recall of all...
FSANZ Releases 2030 Roadmap Outlining Priority Food Standards Proposals
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has published a 2030 Roadmap that charts food‑standards proposals through 2030 across four strategic outcomes: safe food, healthy supply, informed consumers, and thriving economies. The plan modernises standards for sports nutrition, infant formula, and nutrient...
Ireland Food Safety Authority Issues Guidance on Controlling Listeria in Ready-to-Heat Meals
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has released a Guidance Note on controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready‑to‑heat meals. The guidance follows 2025 listeriosis outbreaks that sickened nine people in Ireland (one fatality) and 28 in the United States (seven...
EU Publishes Guidance for Industry on New Packaging Law
The European Commission released detailed guidance to help businesses apply the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) uniformly across the EU. The document clarifies who qualifies as a manufacturer or producer, defines “packaging,” and outlines enforcement of PFAS limits, single‑use...
Study Links Diets High in Ultra-Processed Foods to Increased Heart Attack, Stroke Risk
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University analyzed NHANES data from 4,787 U.S. adults and found that individuals in the highest quartile of ultra‑processed food (UPF) consumption faced a 47 percent greater risk of cardiovascular disease, primarily heart attacks and strokes. The study,...
Patient Count in Raw Farm E. Coli Outbreak Grows, Majority Are Young Children
An FDA investigation has linked nine E. coli O157:H7 infections across California, Texas, and Florida to Raw Farm‑brand raw cheddar cheese, with more than half of the patients younger than five. Whole‑genome sequencing shows the isolates are genetically related, confirming a common...