The full committee of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a hybrid in-person and virtual public meeting on May 16, 2023, to provide an update on the Cyclospora cayetanensis in produce and Cronobacter in powdered infant formula subcommittee work.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a report on its investigation of a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to cantaloupes that occurred during July–September 2022, and has highlighted food safety recommendations for melon growers and distributors.

The majority of food on the EU market contain pesticide residues below legally permitted thresholds according to the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) 2021 report on pesticides in foods.

Through sampling activities and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis, a recent research project funded by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) revealed insights about the movement of L. monocytogenes across a processing facility, the persistence of the pathogen, and the efficacy of biocides and sanitation practices.

Edible Garden has partnered with government and academic institutions in two studies: one to study the food safety potential of nanobubble technology in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), and one to work towards identifying sources of fresh produce contamination and mitigation strategies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a letter reminding developers and manufacturers of new plant varieties intending to transfer genes for proteins that are food allergens into new plant varieties used for food of the relevant legal requirements for such products.

There is a growing trend of pathogenic outbreaks being traced to processed fruits, leading to industry players implementing more diligent control processes. This article discusses methodologies and regulations around fruit washing and sanitizing.

The questions about the safety of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) are complicated. This article outlines why CEA safety depends on understanding and properly addressing the challenges of combining agricultural and ready-to-eat (RTE) into a single facility. It also addresses why CEA is not inherently safe. Ultimately, this article will show how the risk profile of CEA must be compared to that of other RTE produce and that there is no universal answer to the question of CEA safety.

The University of Vermont Extension’s Northeast Center to Advance food Safety (UVM’s NECAFS) has released a series of factsheets on produce safety in hydroponic and aquaponic operations for educators, regulators, and producers. The new factsheets guide readers through produce safety considerations specific to hydroponic and aquaponic operations.

In an effort to fulfill its strategic commitment to providing food safety expertise and business solutions for industry, the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA’s) Produce Safety Immersion Program recently welcomed its fourth cohort from a variety of IFPA member companies.