The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) proposed reorganization for a new, unified Human Foods Program (HFP) has been approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and full implementation of the reorganization is set for October 1, 2024.

A recent publication from the World Trade Organization (WTO)—written in collaboration with other expert groups that have expertise in food safety and food crime—explores the challenges of combating food fraud and illegal practices in food trade, and how the WTO rulebook can help address these challenges. 

Major U.S. Midwestern grocery distributor Certco Inc. is joining the ReposiTrak Traceability Network® to automate supplier traceability and ensure compliance with Subpart 204 of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA 204).

A recent study has shown the ability of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 to infect mice fed contaminated raw milk, while, separately, testing conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has found HPAI traces in muscle from culled dairy cows.

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a virtual public meeting on June 24 to provide updates on its charges from USDA and FDA regarding genomics and Cronobacter in powdered infant formula, respectively.

Mojix has released a guide to help businesses prepare for and become compliant with the Food Traceability Final Rule/FSMA 204.

Wiliot has launched a partnership with iFoodDS and Trustwell to incorporate Wiliot’s ambient Internet of Things (IoT) data and technology into the two companies’ food safety compliance software solutions, enabling both companies to add real-time, automatically captured, item-level traceability data to their platforms. 

The Food Traceability Enhancement Act, recently introduced to U.S. Congress, aims to “strengthen compliance” with FSMA 204/the Food Traceability Final Rule through several key changes to its implementation.

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has established a new Benchmarking and Harmonization Working Group to develop and maintain GFSI Benchmarking Requirements (BMR), with the aim of to delivering a new set of BMR by the end of 2024.

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.