FDA Seeks Input on a New Method for Ranking Chemicals in Food for Post-market Assessments

FDA Seeks Input on a New Method for Ranking Chemicals in Food for Post-market Assessments

By Food Safety Tech Staff

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released for public comment its proposed method for ranking chemicals in the food supply. This method provides a transparent, systematic, and science-based approach to determine which chemicals the agency would prioritize for post-market assessments through the agency’s post-market chemical review program. It will allow the FDA to allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that the agency focuses on food chemicals that may present the greatest potential public health risk, including risk to sensitive populations, and are of high public concern.

Determining if a chemical—either one intentionally added to food or a contaminant that is not intentionally added—needs to be further evaluated based on new information takes a structured and science-based approach to ensure that the FDA’s reviews are most protective of the health of consumers. The method released today uses Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to determine a score for each chemical based on evaluating the information about a chemical against a pre-determined set of criteria. The method is similar in approach and criteria to one that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses for prioritizing chemicals, but the FDA’s method takes into account factors specific to exposure from food and uses a scoring method similar to the FDA’s Risk Ranking Model for Traceability.

Trump Nominates Mindy Brashears to Second Term as USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety

By Food Safety Tech Staff

Mindy Brashears, the former Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been nominated again for a second term by Trump. For her first term she was nominated by Trump and confirmed by a Senate vote on March 23, 2020 and concluded her service on January 20, 2021. Dr. Emilio Esteban, currently the Chief Scientific Officer for Mérieux NutriSciences’ North America division, and Head of its Global Analytical Hub was the Undersecretary for Food Safety at USDA who succeeded Brashears.

Her responsibilities as Under Secretary included leading the nation’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and its team of over 10,000 food inspectors and scientists. She chaired the Codex Alimentarius Policy Committee, which made her the highest-ranking food safety official in the U.S. government during her tenure.

Following her time at USDA, she returned to her role as professor of food microbiology and food safety at Texas Tech University where she is the director for the International Center for Food Industry Excellence

Brashears nomination for the Senate confirmation process is now before the Senate Committee on Agriculture. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

FDA, USDA FSIS, CDC and States Collaborate on Outbreak Investigation of Listeria from Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Meals

By Food Safety Tech Staff

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to chicken fettuccine alfredo meals. Recalled product assembled at FreshRealm, Inc.’s San Clemente, California; Montezuma, Georgia; and Indianapolis, Indiana, manufacturing locations may be adulterated with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes.

As of June 18, 2025, a total of 17 cases have been reported from 13 states. Of the 11 people interviewed, 7 reported eating precooked meals, and 4 (57%) specifically reported eating chicken fettuccine alfredo. Of 17 people with information, 16 (94%) were hospitalized and there are 3 deaths attributed to listeriosis. There is one pregnancy associated illness in a mother that resulted in a fetal loss.

FDA has conducted a thorough investigation in response to this outbreak, including traceback of FDA-regulated ingredients within the assembled product. FDA used specific meal information reported by ill people, and collected by state officials and CDC, and firm records to trace FDA-regulated ingredients through the supply chain to the establishments where those were produced. FSIS identified the outbreak strain in a routine sample of FreshRealm’s chicken fettuccine alfredo collected on March 19, 2025. This lot of product was not distributed into the food supply. FSIS also used purchase documentation to trace chicken fettuccine alfredo products purchased by two ill people to FreshRealm establishments. An additional two ill people verbally described chicken fettuccine alfredo products they purchased. FSIS identified products produced by FreshRealm that matched the descriptions during follow-up at the retail stores where they shopped.

FDA also initiated multiple inspections, including sample collection, at the manufacturers of some ingredients used to make the chicken fettuccine alfredo product.

Testing of the FDA-regulated ingredients collected to date is complete and the outbreak strain of Listeria was not found. FDA and FSIS have not yet determined a source of contamination for this product; however, both agencies are working closely with each other and CDC to continue to collect information to determine what additional steps are needed to protect public health.

On June 17, 2025, in response to this investigation, FreshRealm, Inc., recalled their pre-made chicken fettuccine alfredo products sold at Kroger and Walmart.

Agenda Posted & Registration Opens for the 2025 Food Safety Consortium Conference

Food Safety Tech and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) are excited to announce that registration for the 2025 Food Safety Consortium Conference held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, from October 19-21 is now open.

The 2025 event will focus on the convergence of policy, science, and best practices. With the conference being held near Washington, D.C., this year’s program places a renewed emphasis on policy discussions, reflecting the growing need to address regulatory and legislative issues. The program will also prioritize the sharing of best practices, offering attendees the chance to learn from one another and engage in collaborative problem-solving on hot-button issues. The 2025 conference will continue the Consortium’s mission to:

Facilitate the exchange of scientific information and best practices among food safety professionals.
Address current challenges and advancements in food safety, technology, and compliance.
Promote collaboration between industry, academia, and regulatory bodies to enhance public health outcomes.

Donna Garren, Ph.D, Executive Vice President of Science & Policy, AFFI, at the 2024 Food Safety Consortium

Guiding the 2025 program was a newly formed committee:

Jason P. Bashura, MPH, RS, PepsiCo R&D, Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Sr. Manager, Global Food Defense, PepsiCo
Rick Biros, Content Director & Publisher, Food Safety Tech (Committee Co-Chairperson)
Erika Blickem, Director of Food Safety, J.R. Simplot Company, Inc.
Benjamin Chapman, Ph.D., Department Head, Professor, Food Safety Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC State Extension
Byron D. Chaves, PhD., Associate Professor & Food Safety Extension Specialist, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Donna Garren, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Science & Policy, American Frozen Food Institute (Committee Co-Chairperson)
Melody Ge, Sr. Director, Food Safety & Quality Operations, TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
Sanjay Gummalla, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs, American Frozen Food Institute
David Hatch, Vice President, Digital Solutions Marketing, Neogen
Jill Hoffman, Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality, B&G Foods, Inc.
Justyce Jedlicka, NA Commercial Applications – Food & Beverage Regulatory, Science & Lab Solutions, BioMonitoring, MilliporeSigma
Barbara C. Kowalcyk, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Jeff Lucas, Technical Director, Mèrieux NutriSciences
Michael L Rybolt, Ph.D., Sr. Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Tyson Foods

Donna Garren, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Science & Policy at AFFI who co-chairs the program committee said “Last year’s attendees directed us to expand the program to support the education and learning of their entire food safety and quality assurance team. We responded by adding four new breakout sessions: Microbiological Track, Chemical Food Safety Testing Track, FSMA & Traceability Track and a Sanitation Track.” Garren added “I’m excited to announce our keynote speakers, Dr. Emilio Esteban and Ricky Dickson.”

Dr. Emilio Esteban, Chief Scientific Officer for Mérieux NutriSciences’ North America division, and Head of its Global Analytical Hub and former Undersecretary for Food Safety at USDA is the opening keynote speaker.

The closing keynote speaker is Ricky Dickson, Author and Former CEO of Blue Bell Creameries.

“The 2025 Consortium will build upon the success of previous events, which have featured high-level panel discussions, educational presentations, and pre-conference workshops.” said Rick Biros, Content Director and Founder of Food Safety Tech and co-chairperson of the program committee. Having the conference in the Washington DC area helps facilitate greater accessibility for FDA officials, other government representatives such as those from USDA and DHS, as well as industry associations.” Biros adds.

Table Top Booth at the 2024 Food Safety Consortium

“The committee’s collective expertise in food safety and leadership will be essential in shaping the conference program. The Consortium has always been a key platform for the convergence of policy, science, and best practices, and in 2025, we will ensure that policy discussions take center stage, especially given the proximity to Washington, D.C. AFFI’s work is always grounded in science, and our commitment to evidence-based solutions drives everything we do. This conference will continue to reflect that focus while fostering collaboration across all sectors of the food safety ecosystem.” said Garren.

The full program is available at FoodSafetyConsortium.org

August Egg Company Recalls 1,700,000 Shell Eggs

By Food Safety Tech Staff

FDA announced that August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is recalling 1,700,000 dozen brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

A total of 79 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from seven states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 24, 2025, to May 17, 2025. Twenty-seven of 30 cases with information available reported exposure to eggs or an egg containing dish before becoming ill. There have been 21 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported.

The eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 15, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, within California and Nevada. The eggs were distributed at retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.

The eggs were also distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 6, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025, to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois.

The CDC states that the true number of sick people in this outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.

Marion Nestle in her “Food Politics” blog commented about the recall, “To endlessly repeat: Salmonella in eggs is preventable, but nobody is making egg producers do what they need to do to prevent hens from getting infected. If 79 cases and 21 hospitalizations doesn’t get you upset, ask yourself why you are inured to such information. One more time: these are preventable illnesses and hospitalizations. And no, organic and cage free conditions do not prevent hens from carrying Salmonella. And how could they? I’ve been to industrial organic egg production facilities and have seen thousands of hens on top of each other in crowded barns. We have the laws. They need to be enforced”.

May 30, 2025

Lead in Baby Food, Again!

By Food Safety Tech Staff

U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on May 22, 2025 that Publix Super Markets, Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food, produced by Bowman Andros LLC and distributed to Publix grocery stores in the company’s eight-state operating area. The product is sold in 4-ounce plastic pouches and has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead.

This recall is being initiated as a result of routine sampling and is being made with the knowledge of the FDA.

On the FDA’s website Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous said “As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted products have been removed from all store shelves. To date, there have been no reported cases of illness. Consumers who have purchased the product in question may return the product to their local store for a full refund. Publix customers with additional questions may call our customer care department toll-free at 1-800-242-1227 or visit our website at publix.com

At the time of this posting, May 30, 2025, this recall is not posted on Publix’s nor Bowman Andros’ websites.

May 29, 2025

Senator Tom Cotton Introduces Bill to Unify Food Safety Agencies

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced the Study And Framework for Efficiency in Food Oversight and Organizational Design (SAFE FOOD) Act, legislation that would direct the Department of Agriculture to conduct a study on the consolidation of federal agencies that have a primary role in ensuring food safety into a single agency.

The Bill states that not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study on the consolidation of Federal agencies with a primary role in ensuring food safety in the United States (including the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) into a single agency.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing the results of the study; and any recommendations of the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to the consolidation.

Full text of the bill may be found here.

May 29, 2025

Hormel Recalls Canned Beef Stew Product Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced May 28.

The problem was discovered after the establishment notified FSIS that they had received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product.

There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product.

May 10, 2025

LA Department of Public Health declares Hepatitis A Outbreak in Los Angeles County

By Food Safety Tech Staff