Food News

News 5/15/26 – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels) Washington officials moved forward this week with a new effort to test emerging health technologies in real-world settings. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services named the initial group of organizations that will participate in its Health Tech program. The announcement marks the start of a structured rollout designed to gather practical data on tools that could eventually affect patient care and payment models. Program Goals and Timeline The initiative focuses on technologies that address long-standing challenges in Medicare and Medicaid delivery. Selected participants will run limited pilots over … Read more

Medicaid Changes in House and Senate Reconciliation Bills Would Increase Costs for 1.3 Million Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash) On May 22 the House approved the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a reconciliation measure designed in part to offset the cost of extending expiring tax cuts. The legislation targets Medicaid spending as a primary source of savings. Congressional Budget Office projections show the changes would trim federal outlays by $793 billion across the next decade while shrinking program enrollment by 10.3 million people by 2034. Scale of the Spending Reductions The $793 billion … Read more

CMS Moratorium: What A Nationwide Freeze Means For Home Health Growth – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a six-month nationwide moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for home health agencies and hospices. The policy blocks new agencies as well as additional branch locations and can be renewed in six-month increments. Industry observers note that similar past actions lasted far longer than the initial term, forcing providers to rethink expansion plans immediately. Historical Pattern Points to Prolonged Restrictions CMS imposed a comparable enrollment freeze in 2013 under the Obama administration. That … Read more

Morning Headlines 5/15/26 – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has moved ahead with a targeted effort to modernize one of healthcare’s most persistent administrative hurdles. By naming early adopters, the agency is positioning a select group of organizations to test and refine digital solutions that could replace paper-based prior authorization processes. The step reflects ongoing federal interest in reducing delays that affect both providers and patients. Scope of the Early Adopter Initiative Under the new program, participating entities will work directly with CMS to develop and implement electronic systems for … Read more

Sesame noodles recalled because of possible peanut contamination – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay) Fly By Jing has initiated a voluntary recall of specific lots of its Creamy Sesame Noodles after discovering the possibility of peanut cross-contact during production. The move addresses a serious risk for individuals with peanut allergies, who could experience severe or life-threatening reactions upon consumption. The products reached consumers through major retail channels and direct online sales over several months earlier this year. Scope of the Affected Products Two package sizes fall under the recall. The single-pack version carries UPC 8-50052-23988-6, while the … Read more

Test results show headcheese is contaminated with outbreak strain of Listeria – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay) Public health officials have traced a small but serious Listeria outbreak directly to Daisy Brand headcheese sold in Illinois and Indiana. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain in unopened packages collected by federal inspectors. The finding prompted an immediate public health alert from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, even though the affected products are no longer on store shelves. Confirmed Source and Limited Scope Whole genome sequencing matched the Listeria monocytogenes found in the headcheese … Read more

Aveanna Expects ‘Zero Impact’ From Home Health Moratorium – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash) Atlanta-based Aveanna Healthcare is pressing ahead with a major acquisition even as federal regulators roll out a new enrollment freeze for home health and hospice providers. The company reported strong first-quarter results and raised its full-year revenue outlook, signaling that its core operations remain on solid footing. Leadership views the Medicare moratorium as operationally irrelevant to its immediate plans. Acquisition Moves Forward on Schedule Aveanna is completing the regulatory review for its $175.5 million purchase of Family First Homecare. The deal is expected … Read more

Gates Foundation opens disease burden call – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash) Diarrheal diseases still cut short far too many childhoods in low- and middle-income countries, yet health officials often lack reliable numbers on how many cases occur and which pathogens drive the worst outcomes. Without sharper data, programs that deliver vaccines, clean water, or oral rehydration salts struggle to reach the children who need them most. The Gates Foundation has now opened a call for proposals that aims to tighten those estimates and reduce the uncertainty that currently clouds planning efforts. Why Precise Counts Matter for … Read more

FDA steps up enforcement actions on imported cheese, seafood, dried peppers and more – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Flickr) Importers of cheese, seafood, dried peppers and other foreign foods now face updated compliance checks that could slow or stop certain shipments at U.S. borders. The Food and Drug Administration has revised several import alerts in recent weeks, reflecting its routine practice of adjusting enforcement tools to address food safety risks. These changes affect businesses that rely on overseas suppliers and ultimately influence the variety and timing of products reaching American shelves. How Import Alerts Work in Practice … Read more

Allergen risks dominate Australian recalls – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels) Food Standards Australia New Zealand coordinated 92 food recalls during 2025, a modest decline from the 95 alerts issued the year before. The figures, released in a recent agency report, show that undeclared allergens continued to account for the largest share of incidents. This pattern reflects persistent difficulties with labeling accuracy and ingredient disclosure in products reaching Australian consumers. Breakdown of the Main Triggers Undeclared allergens triggered 35 recalls, far outpacing other categories. Microbial contamination followed with 23 cases, while foreign objects appeared in 22 recalls. … Read more