The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has provided updates on its sampling and testing activities of retail milk for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viral fragments. Additionally, Health Canada and CFIA recently completed a study on pasteurization’s efficacy against HPAI in milk. 

Researchers from Tulane University assessed the levels and risks of toxic metals in chocolates sold in the U.S., made from beans originating from different global regions.

The European Commission is taking strides to improve honey authenticity, including setting new origin labeling requirements, and the development of harmonized traceability requirements and improved methods of composition analysis and origin tracing. The Commission is assembling a group of experts called the “Honey Platform” to advise this work and is accepting applications.

Food safety is paramount in the production process, and crucial for protecting consumers from health risks associated with allergens and contaminants.

So far, 12 severe cases of illness, including seizures, have been linked to the consumption of Diamond Shruumz brand mushroom-based chocolates and candies. The products are marketed as way to “microdose” (implying a drug-like effect), but also claim not to contain psychedelic substances.

Intended to inform food safety decision-making, a new risk assessment model developed by researchers at Penn State University helps milk processors evaluate possible consumer exposure to Bacillus cereus from milk subjected to high-temperature, short-time pasteurization.

An EU Member States expert committee has voted in support of a European Commission proposal to ban some bisphenols, including bisphenol A (BPA), in food contact materials.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) is planning to implement new detection approaches in its laboratories and will update the associated Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook chapters.

On July 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) will hold a webinar on the use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to support FSIS’ food safety mission.

An expert report commissioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) weighed the nutritional benefits of seafood consumption against the health risk of dietary exposure to contaminants in seafood, with special consideration to childhood growth and development.