Food Safety News and Research

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A Day in the Life of a Nutritionist

In this interview, we spoke to Dr. Marion Nestle, a nutritionist, about her day-to-day roles and responsibilities as well as her career highlights.

17 Dec 2021

Environmental exposure to low-levels of toxic metals may increase risk of clogged arteries

Environmental exposure to low-levels of the toxic metals arsenic, cadmium and titanium appears to increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries in the neck, heart and legs, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB).

9 Dec 2021

WHO announces new commitments to accelerate progress on 2025 nutrition targets

COVID-19 and climate change have exacerbated malnutrition in all its forms and threatened the sustainability and resilience of food systems around the world. At the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Tokyo on 7 – 8 December 2021, the World Health Organization has announced six new commitments to accelerate progress on the 2025 nutrition targets which have been pushed even further off course during the pandemic.

8 Dec 2021

New citizen science project to investigate bacteria found on chopping boards

Researchers in the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University have been awarded funds to explore the microbiome of the kitchen chopping board with the help of 'citizen scientists'.

24 Nov 2021

New prevention zone to protect poultry and captive birds from avian influenza

From 8pm on 21 November 2021, a new avian influenza prevention zone will be declared in parts of North Yorkshire in England, namely the districts of Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire, which means that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers in that area to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

21 Nov 2021

CDC posts food safety alert about multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 infections linked to spinach

A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 infections linked to spinach has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2021/o157h7-11-21/index.html.

20 Nov 2021

Smiths Detection: Innovative technology in biothreat detection

In this interview, we spoke to Warren Mino at Smiths Detection, about their innovative technology and its involvement within biothreat detection.

From Smiths Detection 15 Nov 2021

Murine hepatitis virus as a surrogate for studying SARS-CoV-2 in food processing biofilms

Researchers from Texas A&M University inoculated MHV (SARS-CoV-2 surrogate) into a meat processing environmental biofilm and developed it on stainless steel (SS), PVC, and tiles at 7°C.

4 Nov 2021

Study shows cognitive effects of ready-to-use enhanced therapeutic food in malnourished children

A nutritional supplement popular in the U.S. and added to some types of yogurt, milk and infant formula can significantly improve cognition in severely malnourished children, according to a study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

2 Nov 2021

CDC releases food safety alert regarding multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections

A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/oranienburg-09-21/index.html.

22 Oct 2021

Cornell researchers develop a “digital twin” to help the food industry stop Listeria outbreaks

Researchers from Cornell University are blending food science expertise and computer programming savvy to help the food industry stop Listeria outbreaks.

18 Oct 2021

Penn State researchers sequence bacteria genomes to enhance the early detection of novel pathogens

To enhance the early detection of novel infectious bacteria that could cause outbreaks of infectious disease and public health emergencies, a team of researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will sequence the genomes of 700 Bacilli bacteria -; near relatives of the biothreat pathogen that causes anthrax.

8 Oct 2021

Industrial chemical perfluorobutanoic acid less likely to accumulate in human lungs and kidneys

A 2013 study by Pérez et al. reported a very high accumulation of the industrial chemical perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) in human lungs and kidneys. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) checked these results using a more precise quantification method. The result: Only one sample contained a quantifiable PFBA value of 0.17 nanograms (ng) per gram (g) of lung tissue.

25 Sep 2021

Research shows ozone as a potential disinfectant agent in public transport

The Hydrens team of researchers developed a numerical model that estimates the ozone concentration needed to meet the disinfection criteria. To do this, it takes into account the geometry and volume of the space to be treated, the type of materials inside it and their capacity to absorb ozone, and the characteristics of the impulsion-distribution system used.

24 Sep 2021

FDA releases the results of first PFAS survey in nationally distributed processed foods

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released the results of the first survey of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nationally distributed processed foods, including several processed baby foods, collected from the agency's Total Diet Study (TDS), which monitors levels of nutrients and contaminants in foods consumed in the U.S.

26 Aug 2021

German study shows high protection from COVID-19 in over 80s with Pfizer vaccine

A new observational study in Germany, recently published on the medRxiv* preprint server, found the Comirnaty vaccine to be 68.3% effective against COVID-19 for people over 80. In those fully immunized, the vaccine was found to be 73.2% effective in preventing hospitalization and 80.1% effective against death.

26 Aug 2021

Food products labeled as containing “wild mushrooms” often misleading

A team of researchers at the University of Utah and the Natural History Museum of Utah has found that wild mushroom ingredients often consist entirely or in part of cultivated species. These include the ubiquitous white and brown “button” mushrooms and portabella (Agaricus bisporus), oyster (Pleurotus spp.), and shiitake (Lentinula edodes).

24 Aug 2021

FDA and Mexican counterparts report accomplishments and set goals for future food safety partnership

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of food imported from Mexico and advance protections for consumers in both countries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its regulatory counterparts in Mexico - the Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) and the National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) held the first Food Safety Partnership Annual Meeting on August 20, an important milestone in food safety.

23 Aug 2021

Expert review on the achievements and shortcomings of EU's COVID-19 response

A new study in Frontiers in Public Health presents a review of expert opinions on the achievements and shortcomings of the European Union's (EU) COVID-19 response. The aim: to draw lessons for future pandemics.

20 Aug 2021

In rural America, twisting arms to take a covid vaccine first takes trust

Lee Wright was hard at work, constructing a nail salon near the city's abandoned hospital, when Jody Johnson stopped by to introduce himself on a recent afternoon.

16 Aug 2021