The conference’s mission is to elevate industry standards, and the exploration of key scientific and regulatory developments impacting public health and safety and its implications for food production.
Food safety programs are often evaluated through the strength of their technical controls, yet many organizations still experience instability as systems scale. This article examines the underlying governance conditions that determine whether food safety programs function consistently in real operational environments. Understanding this structural layer can help organizations stabilize food safety systems and support long-term operational resilience.
The proposed merger between Unilever and McCormick in March 2026 brings both opportunities and risks regarding food safety, largely driven by the complexity of integrating two global supply chains.
Since the last FDA announcement on March 15, 2026, two (2) additional illnesses have been reported. A total of nine (9) people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from three (3) states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from September 1, 2025, to February 20, 2026. Three (3) people have been hospitalized and one (1) person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. Over half of the illnesses are in children under five (5) years old.
The 2024 annual report highlights a few noteworthy outbreaks: a large outbreak of E. coli linked to carrots, a historical outbreak of illnesses associated with cheese, and a novel series of adverse events linked to certain chocolate bars, cones, and gummies.
The white paper, argues that the United States’ fragmented federal food safety system—split across more than 15 agencies (primarily FDA and USDA FSIS), 30+ laws, and numerous interagency agreements—creates inefficiencies, duplication, regulatory gaps, and preventable public health harms. Advocating for a unified federal food protection entity integrating safety, defense, authenticity, and infrastructure protection, the authors propose five core reform directives and four prime outcomes: better public health protection, reduced burdens, enhanced resilience against threats, and a modern, science/risk-based 21st-century system.
Centered on the theme “Reimagining Leadership,” the summit will feature keynote speaker Candice McGlen, author of Engage Us Now!, along with industry panels and leadership discussions focused on building stronger teams and developing leaders across organizations.
The FDA is releasing a risk assessment that was conducted to evaluate and quantify the risk of human illness associated with consumption of produce grown in fields or other growing areas with untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO), including raw manure. Results of the risk assessment will be used to inform policy decisions regarding appropriate standards for the use of raw manure and other untreated BSAAO when growing produce.
Food safety laboratories are undergoing a significant shift as the food industry faces increasing pressure for speed, accuracy, and transparency. Traditional microbiological methods remain foundational, but they are often too slow to support today’s accelerated production cycles and complex supply chains. As a result, laboratories are adopting rapid microbiological methods, digital data systems, and artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making and reduce risk.
This study sought to identify environmental factors that significantly contribute to the introduction, persistence, and spread of foodborne pathogens that could contaminate produce prior to harvest. Increasing FDA’s understanding of the ecology of this growing region as it pertains to foodborne pathogens is to the benefit of consumers, producers, academia, and food safety officials as it allows for continued improvement in best growing practices to enhance food safety.
