safefood Knowledge Network 's Posts (1026)

Sort by

European public health officials are monitoring an outbreak linked to international travel on long-haul flights.

A cluster of 20 genetically linked Shigella sonnei sequence type (ST) 152 cases were first reported by the United Kingdom.

Austria, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands have also recorded genetically linked cases, suggesting a common source of infection. Austria and France have seven cases each while Ireland has three and the Netherlands has one.

Continue reading

Read more…

Results of a French surveillance operation have been published, revealing the rate of contamination in fresh poultry meat at retail.

In France, Salmonella and Campylobacter are the two main bacterial agents responsible for foodborne infections, and Clostridioides difficile is often isolated from the stools of patients with digestive disorders. Poultry is recognized as a reservoir for these three pathogens.

Continue reading

Read more…

In a shift away from GMOS, aka genetically modified organisms, important research is continuing in gene editing, sometimes referred to as “the next big thing in agriculture.”

The important difference between the two is that in the case of gene editing, no foreign DNA is inserted into a plant, animal or microorganism to achieve improvements in size, productivity, disease and insect resistance and in some cases even drought resistance.

Continue reading

Read more…

Scientists have identified the most influential weather factors and combinations associated with an increase in Salmonella infections.

The study, led by a team of researchers at Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine, investigated the impact of different weather factors on the transmission of Salmonella. Their work was supported by animal health company Zoetis and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation funding program. Findings were published in the Journal of Infection.

Continue reading

Read more…

The European Commission mandated EFSA to assess the toxicity of bromide, the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs), and possible transfer from feed into food of animal origin. The critical effects of bromide in experimental animals are on the thyroid and central nervous system. Changes in thyroid hormone homeostasis could result in neurodevelopmental toxicity, among other adverse effects.

Continue reading

Read more…

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is to develop guidance for sellers of food on social media after a survey found buying products in this way was more common than predicted.

Research focused on ready-to-eat (RTE) food sold on Facebook Marketplace in Scotland. A total of 476 advertisements were included in the analysis.

Bakery and confectionery items accounted for almost two-thirds of the RTE foods sold while 12 percent were takeaway meals collected or delivered hot.

Continue reading

Read more…

Eleven people have been sickened in a severe Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak in France linked to raw milk cheese. 

Nine hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in adults have been confirmed by the National Reference Center for E. coli. HUS is a severe complication associated with E. coli infections that causes kidney failure.

Continue reading

Read more…

Researchers in Spain are working to develop faster, more accurate methods for detecting viruses like human norovirus and hepatitis A in fresh produce.

The project, led by Dr. Susana Guix from the University of Barcelona, aims to improve food safety and reduce false positives. It focuses on leafy greens and berries, which are often associated with contamination risks.

Continue reading

Read more…

Between 21 September and 6 December 2024, 657 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) and A(H5N5) virus detections were reported in domestic (341) and wild (316) birds across 27 countries in Europe. Many HPAI outbreaks in domestic birds were clustered in areas with high poultry density and characterised by secondary farm-to-farm spread.

Continue reading

Read more…

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process NGR LSP (EU register number RECYC328). The input is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications.

Continue reading

Read more…

The number of enforcement measures taken against food businesses went up in 2024 in Ireland prompting officials to describe the rise as “unacceptable.”

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported that 133 enforcement orders were served on companies for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, an increase from 92 in 2023.

Continue reading

Read more…

A coalition of environmental groups has sued the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the use of highly toxic phthalates in plastic food packaging because the chemicals have been found to leach at alarming rates and present a serious health risk, especially for developing children.

The suit is the latest salvo in an ongoing eight-year battle in which advocates have pressured the FDA to ban the chemicals’ use in food packaging, but the agency has sided with industry that opposes the calls. Since 2016, the FDA has either illegally ignored petitions or rejected demands to revoke a 40-year-old authorization for the chemicals that is based on long-outdated science.

Continue reading

Read more…

Amid a wave of reported avian influenza (bird flu) infections of cattle and other mammals, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released new guidelines advising its members how to implement effective surveillance programmes for early detection of influenza in cattle.

Since its emergence over two decades ago, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus has evolved into various clades.

Continue reading

Read more…

In recent times, Frank Yiannas, the former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, has been a prominent voice on LinkedIn, calling for rethinking and innovation in food safety practices to protect the consumer. His calls come amid a troubling series of food recalls, foodborne illness outbreaks, food allergen issues, and other food safety challenges in the U.S. Yiannas' use of the term "rethinking" emphasises the urgent need to reassess our approach to food safety—not just at the policy level, but also on the kitchen/production floor, where daily food safety practices are implemented. This is a global issue that is not confined to any one country.

Continue reading

Read more…

While there continues to be no evidence of human-to-human spread of avian influenza, new outbreaks in wild and domestic birds were reported in Europe and around the world between September and December 2024. These are the main findings of our last avian influenza monitoring report, produced together with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the EU reference laboratory (EURL).

Continue reading

Read more…