Beltway Beat

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

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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.

Women in Food Safety Networking Breakfast at the 2024 Food Safety Consortium

 

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

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Beltway Beat

August Egg Company Recalls 1,700,000 Shell Eggs

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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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”.

 

Lead in Baby Food, Again!

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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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.

Beltway Beat

Senator Tom Cotton Introduces Bill to Unify Food Safety Agencies

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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.

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

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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.

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

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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In a Press Release, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has declared a community-wide outbreak of hepatitis A following a sustained increase in clinical cases and elevated virus levels detected in local wastewater. Public Health confirmed 165 hepatitis A cases in LA County since 2024, which is three times the number of cases reported in 2023.

Although unhoused individuals are at higher risk for contracting hepatitis A infection because they often have limited access to handwashing and toileting facilities, of the 29 hepatitis A cases confirmed to date in 2025, most have been among people without travel or housing risk factors. This increase in hepatitis A infections among people without risk factors has corresponded with recent increases in hepatitis A wastewater concentrations. “It is also important for residents to wash their hands with soap and water regularly and especially before eating and preparing food and after using the bathroom.”

While the risk to the general public remains low, community-wide protection actions are needed to ensure that transmission of hepatitis A is reduced.

“The ongoing increase in hepatitis A cases signals that quick action is needed to protect public health,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “The hepatitis A vaccine is safe, effective, and offers long-term protection. Getting vaccinated is simple, and it’s one of the most important things you can do for your own health and the health of our entire community. It is also important for residents to wash their hands with soap and water regularly and especially before eating and preparing food and after using the bathroom.”

Public Health continues to monitor for and immediately investigate suspect hepatitis A cases and is working closely with healthcare providers to request that they remain vigilant for hepatitis A. Public Health is also working with organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness to educate the community about the increase in hepatitis A, encourage people to get vaccinated, and recommend those with symptoms of hepatitis A to seek medical care.

Beltway Beat

FDA and NIH Announce Innovative Joint Nutrition Regulatory Science Program

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Under the new Nutrition Regulatory Science Program, the FDA and NIH will implement and accelerate a comprehensive nutrition research agenda that will provide critical information to inform effective food and nutrition policy actions to help make Americans’ food and diets healthier. The initiative will aim to answer questions such as:

  • How and why can ultra-processed foods harm people’s health?
  • How might certain food additives affect metabolic health and possibly contribute to chronic disease?
  • What is the role of maternal and infant dietary exposures on health outcomes across the lifespan, including autoimmune diseases?

Answering these questions and many others will enable effective policy development and help promote the radical transparency Americans deserve about the foods they are eating and how those foods can impact their health.

The FDA will provide its critical expertise in regulatory science and NIH will provide the infrastructure for the solicitation, review and management of scientific research. The initiative will bring together experts in many disciplines—including chronic disease, nutrition, toxicology, risk analysis, behavioral science, and chemistry—all with the goal to advance the gold standard of nutrition and food science.

The FDA and NIH will work together to develop a research agenda for the Nutrition Regulatory Science Program and are committed to ensuring all research conducted under the Program is fair, independent and free of conflicts of interest.

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Beltway Beat

FDA Approves Three Food Colors from Natural Sources

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it granted three new color additive petitions that will expand the palette of available colors from natural sources for manufacturers to safely use in food.

The color additive petitions approved today are for:

  • Galdieria extract blue, a blue color derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in nonalcoholic beverages and beverage bases, fruit drinks, fruit smoothies, fruit juices, vegetable juices, dairy-based smoothies, milk shakes and flavored milks, yogurt drinks, milk-based meal replacement and nutritional beverages, breakfast cereal coatings, hard candy, soft candy and chewing gum, flavored frostings, ice cream and frozen dairy desserts, frozen fruits, water ices and popsicles, gelatin desserts, puddings and custards, and whipped cream, yogurt, frozen or liquid creamers (including non-dairy alternatives), and whipped toppings (including non-dairy alternatives). The petition was submitted by the French company Fermentalg.
  • Butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens. Produced through the water extraction of the dried flower petals of the butterfly pea plant, this color additive is already approved for use in sport drinks, fruit drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, alcoholic beverages, dairy drinks, ready to drink teas, nutritional beverages, gums, candy, coated nuts, ice creams, and yogurt. Today’s approval of a petition by St. Louis-based Sensient Colors LLC expands the approved use for coloring ready-to-eat cereals, crackers, snack mixes, hard pretzels, plain potato chips (restructured or baked), plain corn chips, tortilla chips, and multigrain chips.
  • Calcium phosphate, a white color approved for use in ready-to-eat chicken products, white candy melts, doughnut sugar, and sugar for coated candies. The petition was filed by Innophos Inc. of Cranbury, New Jersey.

Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Chapter VII, section 721), color additives are subject to FDA approval to determine whether they are safe before they may be used in food. The FDA determines whether an additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive petition, any manufacturer can use the coloring for the approved uses.

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Beltway Beat

FDA Announces Expanded Use of Unannounced Inspections at Foreign Manufacturing Facilities

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its intent to expand the use of unannounced inspections at foreign manufacturing facilities that produce foods, essential medicines, and other medical products intended for American consumers and patients. This change builds upon the agency’s Office of Inspection and Investigations Foreign Unannounced Inspection Pilot program in India and China and aims to ensure that foreign companies will receive the same level of regulatory oversight and scrutiny as domestic companies.  “For too long, foreign companies have enjoyed a double standard—given advanced notice before facility inspections, while American manufacturers are held to rigorous standards with no such warning. That ends today. This is a key step for the FDA as part of a broader strategy to get foreign inspections back on track,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D, M.P.H.

In addition, the FDA will evaluate the agency’s policies and practices for improvements to the foreign inspection program to ensure that the FDA is the gold standard for regulatory oversight. These changes will include clarifying policies for FDA investigators to refuse travel accommodations from regulated industry including lodging and transportation arrangements (taxi, limousine, and for-hire vehicle transit), to maintain the integrity of the oversight process.

The FDA conducts approximately 12,000 domestic inspections and 3,000 foreign inspections each year in more than 90 countries. According to FDA, U.S. manufacturers undergo frequent, unannounced inspections, foreign firms have often had weeks to prepare, undermining the integrity of the oversight process. Despite the advanced warning that foreign firms receive, the FDA still found serious deficiencies more than twice as often than during domestic inspections.

Only in specific programs and cases are the FDA’s domestic inspections pre-announced to assure that appropriate records and personnel will be available during the inspection. But regulated companies do not have the authority to negotiate the day or time of the inspection— nor should foreign companies have the capability to do so either.

The FDA is authorized to take regulatory action against any firm that seeks to delay, deny, or limit an inspection, or refuses to permit entry for an unannounced drug or device inspection.

“The FDA’s rigorous, science-based global inspections of manufacturing facilities ensure that the food and drug products that enter the U.S. marketplace, and the homes of American consumers, are safe, trusted, and accessible,” said FDA Assistant Commissioner for Inspections and Investigations Michael Rogers. “These inspections provide real-time evidence and insights that are essential for making fact-based regulatory decisions to protect public health.”

The FDA’s global inspections generate real-time intelligence that strengthens enforcement. Every inspection goes through a classification assignment process to enable an appropriate regulatory response. Even inspections that yield a “No Action Indicated” provide important regulatory intelligence that strengthens the safety net for American consumers.

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Beltway Beat

FDA Releases the CORE 2023 Annual Report: Investigations of Foodborne Outbreaks and Adverse Events in FDA-Regulated Foods

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Coordinated Outbreak Response & Evaluation (CORE) Network released its annual report summarizing the investigations of foodborne outbreaks and adverse events in FDA-regulated human foods for the 2023 calendar year.

The FDA’s CORE Network was established in 2011 with the mission to find, stop, and aid in the prevention of foodborne illness outbreaks. This is accomplished through disease surveillance, outbreak response, post-response activities, and collaboration with CDC, state and local public health agencies, and international public health partners. Every year, CORE evaluates and responds to numerous foodborne outbreaks and adverse events linked to FDA-regulated products.

In October 2024, FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) reorganized into FDA’s Human Foods Program (HFP). With this change, CORE reorganized into the Office of Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation, & Emergency Preparedness (CORE+EP). This report is for the 2023 calendar year and reflects the work that was conducted by CORE, CFSAN, and other respective FDA offices prior to the reorganization.

In 2023, CORE evaluated 69 incidents, responded to 25, and issued advisories for 10. These numbers remain similar to recent years, with 65 incidents evaluated, 28 responses, and 11 advisories issued in 2022. CORE investigations resulted in numerous public health actions, including recalls, public health advisories, a Warning Letter, FDA prevention strategies, and country-wide Import Alerts. These are further described in the report.

“CORE has also played a central role in developing and implementing key regulations, including the Final Rule for Traceability under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). CORE members are participants in the FDA Cyclospora Task Force focused on reducing the public health burden of foodborne illness caused by C. cayetanensis in produce. Additionally, our office actively works with food safety partners outside the agency to continue progress of the FDA-SENASICA-COFEPRIS Food Safety Partnership (FSP) with Mexico. These examples highlight just a few of the activities CORE engages in outside of outbreak and adverse event investigations. Dr. Stic Harris, CORE Network Director noted. I’m pleased to share with you some of CORE’s many achievements highlighted in the 2023 annual report.”

The 2023 annual report highlights a few noteworthy outbreaks: illnesses linked to toxins from morel mushrooms, lead linked to cinnamon in applesauce pouches, and Listeria monocytogenes linked to soft serve ice cream cups.