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The FAO/WHO Joint Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) has published a report ranking the most important foodborne viruses and virus-food commodity pairings.

The EU Joint Research Center (JRC) has developed new methods for detecting adulteration in six popular herbs and spices, as well as new reference materials to help identify fraudulent fish products.

Recent research efforts by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to support novel food risk assessments include a study of the effects that processing methods for novel and genetically modified foods can have on proteins, as well as the development of a fit-for-purpose, in vitro toxicity assessment approach for novel proteins. 

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Dr. Carolyn Ross, Professor at Washington State University (WSU) and Director of the WSU Sensory Science Center, about emerging sensory perception technologies and their potential applications for food safety and quality assurance.

Combining genomic sequencing data and artificial intelligence (AI), researchers have demonstrated the efficacy of a new approach for the untargeted detection of contaminants, antibiotics, and other food safety anomalies in bulk milk samples.  

Combining multiplex PCR and DNA barcoding, Chapman University researchers successfully detected fraudulent adulteration in half of ginseng supplement samples tested. With 28 percent of samples still unable to be identified, the researchers call for future studies combining DNA- and chemical-based testing methods. 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has launched its new Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MX Series ICP-MS designed for environmental, food, industrial, and research labs to simplify trace element analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

A recent study has demonstrated that current sampling and testing methods for Campylobacter may overlook epidemiologically-important strains. The researchers suggest using optimized culture methods and analyzing multiple isolates per sample.

A recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) project explored new methods to understand the immunotoxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). At the same time, one Swiss canton has called on Parliament to develop a PFAS action plan after finding widespread contamination on farms, and has banned the sale of beef with high levels of the chemical.

Environmental monitoring programs (EMPs) are not just static documents, but living systems that require active, weekly management. It is crucial to ensure that your EMP is not just in place, but also effective. This article discusses three key challenges for evaluating an EMP.