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The monograph on the safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food - Arsenic, by the Joint FAO and World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), has been released: World Health Organization & Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2026). Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food: prepared by the one hundred and first meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). World Health Organization. https://lnkd.in/g4_FeKUh. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO The monograph contained in this volume was prepared at the one-hundred-and-first meeting of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/ World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which met at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on 15–21 October 2025. The monograph summarizes the data on the specific food contaminant, arsenic, reviewed by the Committee. -The publication reviews biochemical and toxicological data, observations in humans, analytical methods for arsenic speciation, transfer from animal feed to food, sampling protocols, and the effects of processing. -It also examines prevention and control measures, levels and patterns of contamination in food commodities, drinking-water and human breast milk, and dietary exposure estimates from multiple countries and regions. -Dose–response analyses are presented for inorganic arsenic, dimethylarsinate and methylarsonate, together with the Committee’s evaluations and recommendations, providing a scientific basis for food safety risk assessment and risk management. I am honored and happy to have contributed, side by side with great scientists! Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge CHRC – Comprehensive Health Research Centre

#Monitor: A consortium including Ripple Foods, FrieslandCampina, Tetra Pak, SPX FLOW, Inc., and HP Hood LLC has released new guidance on managing microbial safety risks in plant-based dairy alternative beverages. The research, endorsed by NIZO and conducted with Wageningen University & Research, found significant variation in spore-forming bacterial contamination across plant ingredients such as pea, oat, and almond, and recommends that suppliers closely monitor heat-resistant spores and Bacillus cereus to support food safety in shelf-stable products. #FoodSafety #Dairy #PlantProtein #Beverages https://lnkd.in/dsbJ_Tzp

Powdered dairy and infant formula production sit within some of the highest-risk environments in dairy manufacturing. Dry-zone hygiene, environmental monitoring, raw material quality, pathogen prevention and export-ready documentation all play a critical role in managing risk before it reaches the finished product. For milk powder, dairy ingredients and infant nutrition workflows, organisms such as Salmonella and Cronobacter can carry significant food safety, quality, regulatory and reputational consequences. That is why control in high-risk dairy environments has to go beyond compliance. It needs to be built into daily routines, from environmental monitoring and sanitation verification to finished-product confidence and audit-ready documentation. If you want to learn more, join our webinar on July 23: "Food Safety Culture in High-Risk Dairy: Moving from Compliance to Control." Discover how dairy manufacturers can strengthen risk-based thinking, improve process control, and build a more proactive food safety culture. Register now: https://lnkd.in/eAdJx3hM

High-risk dairy manufacturing environments, such as powdered dairy and infant formula production, pose significant challenges for food safety. Salmonella and Cronobacter are two of the biggest threats. Therefore, tightly managed control must be a constant. Learn how dairy manufacturers maintain a proactive safety culture - attend our webinar on July 23: "Food Safety Culture in High-Risk Dairy: Moving from Compliance to Control." Register now: https://lnkd.in/eAdJx3hM #foodsafety #InfantFormula #Hygiena

Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. Initiates Recall of Frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries Due to Potential E. coli O145 Contamination | FDA https://lnkd.in/gCMuz5PY 06/07/2026 updates USFDA 🇺🇸 Food Safety Alert 🚨 Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. has voluntarily recalled GreenWise Organic IQF Frozen Blueberries (10 oz) due to potential contamination with E. coli O145:H28, a harmful foodborne pathogen. The recall follows reports of 12 confirmed illnesses in the United States. This incident reminds us that food safety, quality assurance, and effective recall management are essential to protecting public health. Rapid identification of potential risks and transparent communication play a crucial role in maintaining consumer trust. As professionals in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and regulatory affairs, it is important to stay informed about such safety events and the importance of strong quality systems across the supply chain. #FoodSafety #FDA #ProductRecall #QualityAssurance #RegulatoryAffairs #PublicHealth #FoodQuality #ConsumerSafety

🇨🇳 China Food Regulatory Update | #CFSA Consults on Three New Food Additive Varieties China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) has recently been actively releasing updates on “Three New Food” applications and regulatory developments. On July 15, 2026, CFSA launched a public consultation on three new food additive varieties, including Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) and 3’-Sialyllactose Sodium Salt (3’-SL), two important Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs). The proposed changes mainly focus on: 🔹 Expanding the permitted use scope of approved food ingredients 🔹 Introducing new production processes or strains for existing ingredients 🔹 Supporting broader applications of innovative food ingredients These updates reflect China’s continued efforts to promote the development and application of innovative food ingredients while strengthening regulatory oversight. 📌 Read more about the latest consultation and regulatory details: https://lnkd.in/gks8gtiE #ChinaFoodRegulation #FoodSafety #NovelFood #HMO #FoodAdditives #RegulatoryCompliance

🦠 Top 10 Microbial Tests Every Food Industry Performs........ Food safety starts with microbiological testing. These tests help ensure that food products are safe, high-quality, and compliant with regulatory standards. Top 10 microbial tests commonly performed in the food industry: 1️⃣ Total Plate Count (TPC) – Measures the overall bacterial load and indicates general hygiene and product quality. 2️⃣ Coliform Count – Detects sanitation issues and possible post-processing contamination. 3️⃣ Escherichia coli (E. coli) – Indicates faecal contamination and poor hygiene practices. 4️⃣ Salmonella Detection – A critical pathogen test required for many ready-to-eat and high-risk food products. 5️⃣ Listeria monocytogenes – Essential for dairy, meat, seafood, and ready-to-eat foods due to its serious health risks. 6️⃣ Staphylococcus aureus – Identifies toxin-producing bacteria associated with improper food handling. 7️⃣ Yeast & Mold Count – Evaluates spoilage organisms that affect shelf life and product quality. 8️⃣ Bacillus cereus – Commonly tested in rice, dairy, spices, and processed foods to prevent food poisoning. 9️⃣ Clostridium perfringens – Important for cooked meat products and foods stored under improper temperature conditions. 🔟 Pseudomonas spp. – Monitored in dairy, meat, and chilled foods because it causes spoilage and reduces shelf life. ✅ Regular microbiological testing is the foundation of: • Food Safety • Quality Assurance • Regulatory Compliance • Consumer Trust 😊 As food safety professionals, our goal isn't just to meet standards—it's to protect public health through science, precision, and continuous monitoring. Which microbial test do you perform most frequently in your laboratory or food processing unit? Share your experience in the comments! #FoodSafety #FoodMicrobiology #FoodTesting #QualityControl #QualityAssurance #FoodScience #Microbiology #FoodIndustry #FSSAI #ISO22000 #HACCP #Laboratory #FoodTechnology #FoodQuality #FoodProcessing

Importance of Nutrient Profiles as It Relates to Food Safety: When we discuss the concept of food safety, the focus often leans toward contaminants, pathogens, and regulatory compliance. However, an equally critical but sometimes underemphasized dimension is the nutrient profile of foods—and how it intersects with safety, quality, and public health outcomes. Nutrient profiles provide structured insight into the composition of foods, including levels of fats, sugars, salt, protein, vitamins, and minerals. While traditionally used in nutrition labeling and health promotion, these profiles are increasingly relevant in food safety for several reasons which include: * Indicator of food integrity: Deviations in expected nutrient composition can signal adulteration, substitution, or dilution—common issues in food fraud. * Processing and formulation risks: Reformulation to meet nutrient targets (e.g., low-fat or low-sugar claims) can unintentionally introduce safety risks if not properly validated, especially in relation to shelf-life and microbial stability. * Vulnerable populations: Nutrient imbalances in foods targeted at infants, the elderly, or medically vulnerable groups can pose indirect safety risks by compromising health resilience. * Regulatory alignment: Nutrient profiling models are increasingly being integrated into food policy frameworks, influencing front-of-pack labeling, marketing restrictions, and even safety assessments. In many food systems mostly in Africa, where the informal markets dominate and regulatory enforcement faces capacity challenges, nutrient profiling can serve as an additional layer of surveillance. Coupled with emerging technologies—such as AI-driven compositional analysis and portable spectroscopy—there is an opportunity to strengthen food authenticity verification and safety monitoring. Ultimately, food safety is not only about preventing harm or hazards but also about ensuring that food products deliver their intended nutritional value without compromise. Integrating nutrient profiling into safety systems offers a more holistic, preventive, and intelligence-driven approach to protecting public health. #FoodSafety #FoodSecurity #Nutrition #FoodPolicy #PublicHealth

Japan GM stack regulation was streamlined. Technical assessment was required for Breeding stack of GM events previously. Japan gradually streamlined the process based on science-base and accumulation of experience. Recently, the stack events crossed between GM events with altering metabolic pathways such as nutritional enhancement and agricultural traits like herbicide tolerance/insect resistance is simplified. This is excellent example to drive science-based risk assessment!

The 2025 Annual Report of the European Commission's Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) highlights a record year for food safety monitoring across Europe. Key findings include: - Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium submitted the highest number of notifications. - Reports of suspected agri-food fraud decreased by 46%, largely because imported pesticide residue cases are no longer automatically classified as fraud. - Fresh fruits and vegetables were the most frequently notified food category (18% of all notifications), mainly involving imports from Türkiye and Egypt, due to pesticide residues and mycotoxins. - Aflatoxins were responsible for 53% of notifications involving nuts and seeds. - Salmonella remained the leading biological hazard in the meat sector, accounting for 43% of notifications, particularly in poultry products. - Dietary supplements showed a high risk of fraud, with 71% of notifications linked to suspected fraudulent practices, many involving online sales, misleading health claims, and unauthorized CBD ingredients. - For food-contact materials, over half of the reported issues involved chemical migration (such as primary aromatic amines and formaldehyde) from packaging and kitchenware into food. The ACN also successfully managed several major international food safety incidents, including: - A global recall of cereulide-contaminated infant formula linked to contaminated oil imports from China, affecting 60 countries. - A Listeria outbreak associated with French cheese. - A large Salmonella outbreak traced to contaminated irrigation water at a tomato farm in Sicily. - Other incidents included cucumbers contaminated with paracetamol, toxic enamel mugs releasing heavy metals, and imported fish causing ciguatera poisoning.  #EuropeanCommission #listeria #pesticides #mycotoxins #alert #foodsafety #salmonella #fraud #monitoring