The Wave 9 report, conducted between April and July last year, shows that more than three-quarters of respondents (76%) would rely on the ‘sniff test’ to assess whether raw meat is safe to eat or cook with. A further 73% of respondents said they would rely on the sniff test for milk and yoghurt, and 65% of respondents said they would do so with fish.

The report also found that many respondents would eat bagged salad (72%) or cheese (70%) after the use-by date, while around six-in-ten respondents would eat yoghurt (63%), milk (60%), or cooked meats (58%) after the use-by date.

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As part of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO)’s mission to promote a pro-innovation regulatory system, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has awarded the Food Standards Agency (FSA) £1.4 million to support a new innovation hub. This hub will develop and expand specialist expertise in regulating innovative technologies such as precision fermented foods, making sure these products are safe to eat before they are sold.

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Various new and ongoing trade issues were discussed at a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting that also covered the picture of notifications in 2024.

Attendees at the March meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures addressed trade concerns related to food safety and animal and plant health.

Members raised 60 specific trade concerns (STCs), including six for the first time.

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More than 50 people fell ill across the United Kingdom as part of a Salmonella outbreak in 2024.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) investigated a cluster of Salmonella Blockley infections identified through the analysis of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data.

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The European Union (EU) has a robust food safety system in place. However, food contamination by microorganisms can still occur. In our globalised world, contaminated foods can be traded across EU countries or imported from outside the Union. When people consume these contaminated foods, they may experience mild to severe symptoms of infection. By combining data from human cases and the food sector, EU agencies can determine if local and national incidents might evolve into larger, multi-country outbreaks.

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The EFSA Traineeship Programme offers you a unique opportunity to join a team of professionals from all over the world working together in an international and multicultural environment on Science, Safe Food and Sustainability projects at the heart of European Food Safety activities.

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Recent surveillance data reveal that resistance to commonly used antimicrobials — such as ampicillin, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides— remains persistently high in both humans and animals for key pathogens including Salmonella and Campylobacter. Resistance in E. coli is also frequently observed in animals, although resistance of Salmonella in laying hens is low. These are the main findings of a report issued today by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Food Safety Consultative Council today held an open meeting to explore the  transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in food safety. ‘AI in Food Safety: Innovation, Risks, and Opportunities’ brought together leading experts to explore the potential of AI and its real-world applications in reshaping the future of food safety systems .

Over 220 people registered for the event, which took place at the Gibson Hotel in Dublin, with a lineup of Irish and international speakers from the FSAI and representatives from UCD, Kerry Foods, Teagasc, TOMRA, Creme Global, and The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. 

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An audit in Iceland has found the country has strengthened import controls for food of animal origin but there is still room for improvement, according to a recent report.

Iceland is part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) monitors how the country implements European Economic Area (EEA) rules on food and feed safety, animal health, and welfare.

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Scientists have described the first confirmed ciguatera poisoning incident in the United Kingdom.

The suspected ciguatera incident occurred in England in June 2017 associated with the consumption of fish sold as red snapper steaks. Three people were affected from the same family after eating separate steaks from the same package.

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The extensive use of azole fungicides (azoles), particularly in some agricultural and horticultural practices, can increase the risk of Aspergillus fungi developing resistance to essential antifungal treatments. This significant finding is highlighted in a report by the five EU health and environment agencies, with support from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). The Agencies collaborated under a One Health approach to address this growing threat.

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Combining disinfection treatments and water replenishment can help maintain the microbiological quality of the water used in processing fresh and frozen fruit, vegetables and herbs. This is the main finding of an analysis carried out by EFSA’s experts, which has resulted in several recommendations and the development of a new online tool.

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Avian influenza viruses pose an increasing threat, with the potential to adapt to humans and trigger future pandemics. Employing a One Health approach, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have issued scientific advice that assesses avian influenza virus mutations and the potential of these viruses to spread to humans, along with recommendations for the animal and public health sectors. The work of the two Agencies draws on extensive data, including genetic analyses, human case studies, and antibody presence to outline current risks and mitigation strategies.

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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) published its Audit of the Effectiveness of Official Controls by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority at Ready-To-Eat Fishery Products Establishments. The FSAI has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food law in Ireland. To assess the delivery of official controls by official agencies, the FSAI conducts an annual risk-based audit programme. These audits are designed to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the official controls implemented by agencies in relation to food law, service contracts, and the Multi-Annual National Control Plan  requirements.

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Researchers have looked into the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes related to biofilms and how they support the persistence of the pathogen in food processing environments.

A study led by the Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFoQSI) found that Listeria monocytogenes can colonize existing biofilms and it also survives in them.

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An audit has found the Bulgarian meat control system is let down by a lack of problems being recorded during controls and limited enforcement.

The audit by DG Sante took place in May and June 2024 to evaluate the control system for slaughter hygiene and meat inspection. Recently, six recommendations were made.

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A project has been awarded funding to investigate a strain of Salmonella often found in cattle.

The grant will fund research to explore the genetic and phenotypic variations within Salmonella Dublin. The aim is to understand more about how the bacteria moves from cattle to humans and what that means for food safety and public health.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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