The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially named Taylor Farms onions served at McDonald’s as the source of the recent Escherichia coli outbreak, and has reported 90 illnesses, 27 hospitalizations, two cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, and one fatality.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Human Foods Program has published a list of priority work it intends to deliver upon in Fiscal Year 2025, spanning microbiological food safety, food chemical safety, and nutrition.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has answered objections to a 2022 final rule revoking food contact uses of most phthalates, as well as objections to another petition urging FDA to revoke authorizations for all phthalate uses. The agency stands by its original decisions on both petitions, but reminds that phthalates are undergoing a safety reassessment by FDA.
In an effort to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, researchers at Wageningen University and Research (WUR) are developing a tool to help farmers choose the most effective and sustainable crop protection approaches for their unique operations.
Testing has shown no sign of Escherichia coli contamination in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder beef patties, and traceback and epidemiological data have ruled out beef as the cause of the ongoing E. coli outbreak. Quarter Pounders have returned to the menu at affected McDonald’s locations—without slivered onions.
The “Use and Impact Of Codex Texts: Report of The Codex Survey 2023” showed an 80 percent satisfaction rate among Codex members with Codex Alimentarius texts, but low- and middle-income countries noted a lack of awareness as a significant barrier to adoption.
Amid the ongoing E. coli outbreak, Taylor Farms has been confirmed as the onion supplier to the affected McDonald’s locations. As a result, national restaurant chains are proactively pulling onions from their menus. FDA is still investigating whether onions are the vehicle of illness.
An ongoing study funded by the Center for Produce Safety aims to fill knowledge gaps about the microbial food safety risks posed by wax roller brushes used on fruit and vegetables, as well as identify best cleaning and sanitation practices.
Consumer Reports has delivered a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the agency to ban red dye 3 in foods, and are cautioning the public about certain Halloween candies containing the colorant.
New artificial nose technology developed by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) could make it possible to reliably detect and identify spoiled and damaged food through smell.
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