According to the latest California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Annual Report from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), 97 percent of fresh produce samples collected across the state contain no pesticide residues exceeding health-protective thresholds set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that sufficient laboratory capacity has been reached for mycotoxins testing for food imports under the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program. Owners and consignees of imported food subject to the LAAF regulation must use a LAAF-accredited laboratory to conduct mycotoxins testing beginning December 1, 2024.    

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized a rule to ban commercial uses of methylene chloride, a solvent used in a variety of applications, but uses of the chemicals for food production are still approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently suggested lowering the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for acetamiprid after scientific evidence was published that raised uncertainties about its toxicity. EFSA also recommends lowering the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for acetamiprid in food crops, as current MRLs pose a health risk to consumers.

Barbecue is a widely enjoyed cooking style around the world; however, ingestion of heavily grilled meat, direct exposure to fumes generated while barbecuing, and improperly cooked food or poorly cleaned grills can expose people to poor health outcomes and foodborne illness risk.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to cancel all agricultural uses of the pesticide acephate due to dietary risks from drinking water for currently registered uses of the chemical.

To protect the health of young children, the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024 has been introduced in U.S. Congress to give FDA the authority to enforce scientifically established limits on heavy metals in commercially produced infant and toddler food.

A recent study found high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among Escherichia coli on raw chicken meat sold at retail in the UK, as well as in chicken-based raw dog food samples—with almost half of samples resistant to critically important antibiotics.

A recent study comparing the presence of chemical contaminants in conventionally and hydroponically grown produce found pesticide residues and toxic heavy metals in a larger number of conventional samples than in hydroponic samples. Phthalate levels were consistent between conventional and hydroponic samples.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced the launch of the Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) initiative, a global 10-year effort to mitigate the growing public health threat that is antimicrobial resistance (AMR).