U.S – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made available a new document that describes a risk assessment methodology to analyze the threat that new antimicrobial animal medications pose to microbiological food safety due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The FDA will take into account the possible impact on human health of all uses and classes of new antimicrobial…
READ MOREYear: 2022
FDA food fraud testing discovers adulteration in 10% of imported honey
U.S – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has discovered 10% of imported honey samples to be contaminated after conducting a sampling and testing assignment. In 2021 and 2022, the FDA collected and tested imported honey for economically motivated adulteration (EMA), commonly referred to as “food fraud” when it involves food products. In terms of food, the FDA defines…
READ MOREResearchers assess food safety risks associated with wild birds in agriculture
U.S – An ongoing study supported by the Center for Produce Safety is examining the presence of various species in agriculture and whether they carry and transmit foodborne infections in an effort to assist growers in reducing the hazards to food safety posed by wild birds. The ultimate objective is to use the findings to generate a comprehensive assessment of…
READ MOREFDA releases final guidance on “Best Practices for Convening a GRAS Panel”
U.S – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a final guidance document titled, “Best Practices for Convening a GRAS Panel” which offers information to individuals putting together an expert GRAS panel. In most cases, general recognition of safety can be supported without convening a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) GRAS panel. For a substance to be generally…
READ MOREResearchers discover growing mycotoxin levels in European wheat
EUROPE – A University of Bath study has revealed that mycotoxins are increasingly attacking wheat across Europe, placing human and animal life at risk. The research team, under the direction of Neil Brown, Ph.D., looked at the largest monitoring datasets for Fusarium mycotoxins that were made accessible by governments and the agricultural sector, with a particular emphasis on wheat entering…
READ MOREEuropean Commission spells out maximum levels for PFAS in food
EUROPE – The European Commission has established maximum limits for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), popularly known as “forever chemicals,” which will take effect come January 1, 2023. Foods may stay on the market until their use-by date or date of minimum durability if they were put there legally before January 1, 2023. Limits have been specified for eggs, fishery…
READ MOREUniversity of Dubai students develop sensors to monitor food safety in communal refrigerators
UAE – Two students at the University of Dubai (UoD) have developed an award-winning prototype that uses automatic sensors to assist monitor the safety and freshness of food donated to communal refrigerators. The prototype named “Generous DXB Smart Refrigerator” serves as an illustration of how all facets of society may assist the UAE’s Ne’ma National Food Loss and Waste Initiative,…
READ MORERaw oysters from Texas linked to Norovirus infection outbreak
U.S – Authorities from the state and the federal government are looking into a multi-state outbreak of Norovirus infections linked to raw oysters from Texas. To date, 211 persons are believed to have fallen ill in the outbreak that has spread from the Gulf Coast to Georgia and Tennessee, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While…
READ MORENestlé to resume operations in plant linked to deadly E.coli outbreak
FRANCE – Hauts-de-France officials from the Nord region of France have given the go-ahead for Nestlé’s Buitoni factory in Caudry to resume operations on a partial basis after the deadly E.coli outbreak that occurred earlier in the year. Only the production of cooked-dough pizzas is subject to approval. The line that produces pizzas using the Fraîch’Up range, which do not…
READ MOREEAC donates laboratory equipment to member states to boost trade
EAST AFRICA – As part of an initiative to enhance regional trade in seed potatoes in Eastern Africa, the East African Community (EAC) has donated laboratory equipment to member states of the regional bloc. According to the statement, the project aims to provide the necessary framework conditions for the growth of seed potato trade through assistance with the creation of…
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