Food News

Deadly Outbreaks Expose Urgent Vulnerabilities (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org) Recent studies emphasize how advanced tools could transform the fight against foodborne illnesses by enabling quicker detection and response across the supply chain. Deadly Outbreaks Expose Urgent Vulnerabilities Two major incidents in 2024 underscored the devastating toll of delayed responses. The Boar’s Head deli meats outbreak involved Listeria monocytogenes, resulting in 61 confirmed cases and 10 deaths across multiple states.[1][2] Investigators identified the source after samples collected from late May to mid-July prompted a recall announcement nearly two months later. Factory inspections revealed lapses in sanitation protocols and management oversight, prompting calls … Read more

Nearly 600 Victims in Summer 2021 Crisis (Image Credits: Unsplash) Bolton – A prominent snack producer confronted severe repercussions following a Salmonella outbreak that afflicted nearly 600 consumers nationwide.[1][2] Nearly 600 Victims in Summer 2021 Crisis The incident traced back to the summer of 2021 at Tayto Group Ltd’s factory in Westhoughton, where Mr Porky pork scratchings underwent production. Health authorities identified the source after reports surfaced of illness among consumers who had eaten the snacks. Symptoms included diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, leading 35 individuals to seek hospital treatment.[3] Bolton Council’s environmental health team collaborated with the Food Standards Agency … Read more

Independent Chains Lead with Niche Local Placements (Image Credits: Pixabay) Grocery chains nationwide have begun prioritizing products from small, local suppliers to set themselves apart from rivals and appeal to shoppers seeking unique offerings.[1][2] Independent Chains Lead with Niche Local Placements Family-owned operations like Brown’s Super Stores have turned local sourcing into a key competitive advantage. The company, which runs 12 ShopRite locations in the Philadelphia region, stocks niche products from nearby producers, often limiting them to a single store. This approach allows stores to test demand without broad commitments. Sandy Brown, chairwoman and executive vice president of the business, … Read more

Ultraprocessed Foods Dominate Diets, Prompting Action (Image Credits: Unsplash) Sparkling water brand Spindrift and organic frozen food maker Amy’s Kitchen stand out as early adopters of a groundbreaking certification aimed at combating ultraprocessed foods.[1] Ultraprocessed Foods Dominate Diets, Prompting Action Ultraprocessed foods now comprise up to 70 percent of the typical American diet, fueling worries over links to chronic diseases.[2] Shoppers increasingly seek options closer to their natural state, yet struggle to identify them amid complex labels and marketing claims. The Non-GMO Project responded with its Non-Ultraprocessed Foods (Non-UPF) Verified program, launched after a rigorous pilot phase. This initiative emerged … Read more

A Game-Changing Deadline Approaches (Image Credits: Pixabay) The food industry faces a pivotal transition as GS1’s Sunrise 2027 initiative mandates a global upgrade to 2D barcodes by the end of next year.[1][2] A Game-Changing Deadline Approaches Checkout scanners everywhere will soon demand 2D barcodes, capable of holding vastly more data than traditional UPC codes. These new codes store thousands of characters, encoding details like lot numbers, ingredients, and sourcing information in a single scan.[1] This shift aligns closely with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s traceability rule, set for January 2028, which requires precise supply chain records for faster recalls. Food … Read more

MAHA’s Influence Shapes FDA’s Nutrition Overhaul (Image Credits: Unsplash) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration outlined its Human Foods Program priorities for 2026, with reducing added sugars emerging as a central focus to combat diet-related chronic diseases.[1][2] MAHA’s Influence Shapes FDA’s Nutrition Overhaul Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that the government would wage war on added sugar, describing it as “poison” that drives obesity and diabetes.[2] This stance propelled the FDA’s commitment to align its efforts with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda. The initiative seeks to overhaul the food supply and curb … Read more

A Finance Pro Finds Her Loaf (Image Credits: Unsplash) Ambitious home bakers across America have elevated their sourdough experiments into profitable ventures that rival traditional careers.[1] A Finance Pro Finds Her Loaf Marcelle Malkin traded a high-pressure job in private equity for the rhythms of bread-making after relocating from Westchester, New York, to Fort Mill, South Carolina, in 2021. She launched her operation to cover everyday expenses – what she called “Costco money” – while staying home with her children. Today, her basement bakery generates revenue that equals her former six-figure salary.[1] Fort Mill Sourdough now churns out 400 loaves … Read more

A Supplier Issue Sparks Swift Action (Image Credits: Foodsafetynews.com) Gerber Products Company issued a voluntary recall for limited batches of its popular Arrowroot Biscuits after a supplier flagged possible foreign material in the flour.[1] A Supplier Issue Sparks Swift Action Gerber moved quickly when an arrowroot flour supplier recalled its product due to soft plastic and paper pieces.[1] The company detected no such issues in its own testing but recalled the affected batches out of caution. Production of the implicated biscuits occurred between July and September 2025. Gerber confirmed it severed ties with the supplier to prevent future risks.[1] No … Read more

Food Hygiene Sees Post-Pandemic Gains (Image Credits: Foodsafetynews.com) Great Britain – Authorities unveiled a detailed annual report outlining official controls performed across feed and food safety, animal health and welfare, and plant health during 2024.[1] Food Hygiene Sees Post-Pandemic Gains Local authorities cleared backlogs in lower-risk establishments while maintaining high standards in priority areas. Compliance rates for top-rated hygiene interventions reached 99 percent in England for A-rated sites and 97 percent for B-rated ones, with similar strong performances in Wales at 100 percent and 99 percent respectively.[1] Lower-rated sites showed improvement, such as D-rated establishments in England climbing from 58 … Read more

Spotlight on Emerging Research Initiative (Image Credits: Foodsafetynews.com) Recent research highlights the urgent need for food industry leaders and regulators to integrate cutting-edge technologies into supply chains to combat foodborne illnesses more effectively. Spotlight on Emerging Research Initiative A new research collection in Frontiers in Nutrition underscores how technological tools could dramatically shorten the time required to identify and contain food safety threats. Edited by Yuan Su from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, along with collaborators from institutions across the globe, the effort focuses on the nexus of microbial food safety and human nutrition. This initiative addresses persistent challenges in interconnected … Read more