In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we review the top food safety stories of 2023 and their implications, covering regulatory changes in the U.S. and abroad; growing concerns about chemical additives and contaminants, allergens, traceability requirements, infant formula, and retail foodservice safety; and the Poisoned documentary that premiered on Netflix in summer 2023.

The UK Food Standards Authority Board recently decided it would begin discussions with UK Ministers about making written allergen information for non-prepackaged food a requirement, and will begin drafting guidance for industry in the meantime.

Panera Bread is facing wrongful death lawsuits after two customers in vulnerable populations suffered fatal cardiac events following the consumption of the chain’s Charged Lemonade drinks. The lawsuits assert that the drink is not advertised as a dangerously caffeinated beverage.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a tool to help restaurant managers asses the food safety cultures at their establishments, as well as the findings from studies and other helpful resources about food safety culture for restaurants, on a new webpage.

Auto-Chlor Sytem^TM has unveiled the U34 SpaceSaver Dishmachine dishwasher, able to fit under a 34 inch (in.) table or countertop, making it ideal for behind-the-bar and cafe-like settings.

On the tenth anniversary of mandatory food hygiene rating display in Wales, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) reports a 44 percent increase in the number of Welsh food businesses that have a top hygiene rating of five.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host three virtual, instructor-led Self-Assessment and Verification Audit (SAVA) Workshops for the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards ) in 2024.

Tebots Inc. has designed a UV disinfection station called POZ that addresses the limitations of existing devices that have prevented the technology’s adoption by the foodservice industry.

A new food safety management standard in the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Safe Food Australia Code will come into effect for foodservice and retail businesses on December 8, 2023.

A recent study led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated factors that could contribute to cross-contamination of food in restaurants, and observed more frequent contamination actions in establishments lacking food safety certification, food safety training, and handwashing policies.