Food Safety News and Resources | June
Weird recall, huge research roundup, worrying stats from Europe
23 June| Food Safety News and Free Resources1 |
Deadly Listeria outbreak from ready-to-heat meals (USA)
Recall: Cough syrup for Bacillus cereus (USA)
Record high STEC and Listeria (Europe)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in dairy cattle in the United States (new research)
An allergenicity assessment framework for cultured meat (new paper)
Arsenic in rice and climate change (new paper)
Packaging: chemical migration simulants mechanisms (new research)
Potentially toxic botanicals: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s compendium
AI for detecting microorganisms in food (new paper)
Antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens (new paper)
Source attribution studies of foodborne pathogens (new paper)
Drivers of change of emerging food safety risks in Europe (new paper)
💀 Deadly Listeria outbreak from ready-to-heat meals (USA)
Ready-to-heat chicken fettucine meals have been recalled as they may contain the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes, which has so far killed 4, with 17 confirmed illnesses and 16 hospitalisations. The FDA, the FSIS, and the CDC are investigating.
Find commentary and insights about this outbreak and recall in Issue 194.
Recall-023-2025-Labels.pdf, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/freshrealm-recalls-chicken-fettuccine-alfredo-products-due-possible-listeria, https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/chicken-fettuccine-alfredo-06-25/index.html, https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-chicken-fettuccine-alfredo-meals-june-2025
⚠Recall: Cough syrup for Bacillus cereus (USA)
Five lots of a cough syrup have been recalled in the US due to contamination with Bacillus cereus and loss of shelf-stability.
📈🦠Record high STEC and Listeria (Europe)
Reports published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that the number of infections caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and Listeria monocytogenes reached record levels in 2023, the latest year for which data have been published. The severity of diseases also shows an increasing trend, with a record high number of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in 2022. Listeria mortality was at 11 percent, with 340 deaths from 2,993 confirmed cases in 2023.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/06/europe-reports-record-high-e-coli-and-listeria-levels/
👩🔬 Research Roundup 👩🔬
👩🔬 Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in dairy cattle in the United States (new research)
This paper is detailed and deep with a focus on genetic types and subtypes of high-pathogenicity avian influenza subtype H5N1 within the US and “possibly beyond”. It discusses failures in surveillance and the risks posed by the continuing presence of the virus within cattle, due to the likelihood that the virus will improve its adaptation and transmission efficiency in mammals.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq0900
👩🔬 An allergenicity assessment framework for cultured meat (new paper)
This paper discusses the allergenic potential of cultured meat and proposes an allergenicity assessment framework to support the development of regulatory systems for cultured meat, with the aim of protecting consumers.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2025.2497919
👩🔬 Arsenic in rice and climate change (new paper)
Increasing atmospheric CO2 is likely to increase the concentration of inorganic arsenic in rice, say the authors of a new paper. They say the observed changes are probably due to changes in soil biogeochemistry. Increases in lifetime exposure to arsenic, along with increases in cancer and health risks, are predicted for consumers in Asian countries.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00055-5/fulltext
👩🔬Packaging: chemical migration simulants mechanisms (new research)
This paper discusses the mechanisms for chemical migration from packaging to food, and the simulants used to assess migration, with a focus on antibacterial agents in food packaging.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814625017959?via%3Dihub
👩🔬Potentially toxic botanicals: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s compendium
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has expanded its document Compendium of Botanicals, which contains “toxicity information on substances of possible concern for human health, [within] the composition of the plants.” The project included screening of 60,000 concerning substances.
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/en-9388
👩🔬AI for detecting microorganisms in food (new paper)
A new paper discusses the advantages of methods for detecting microorganisms using AI for more accurate and faster detections of pathogens and spoilage organisms.
👩🔬Antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens (new paper)
A new paper discusses the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens and preventive measures.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10068-024-01767-x
👩🔬Source attribution studies of foodborne pathogens (new paper)
Researchers reviewed 62 source attribution studies published between 2010 and 2023, which included data for 34 pathogens across 26 countries. The most frequently studied pathogens were Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002025000929?via%3Dihub
👩🔬Drivers of change of emerging food safety risks in Europe (new paper)
A new paper describes a process for identifying drivers of change, with both biological and chemical hazards considered. Drivers of change were identified, with all eleven (11) originating from known hazards, and all strongly associated with pathogenic bacteria.
The drivers were categorised into social drivers: consumer behavior, demographic development, health and wellbeing; technological drivers: technologies in food production, technologies in food processing; one economic driver: supply chain; 3 environmental drivers: environmental contamination, management of (natural) resources, bioprocesses; and 2 political drivers: legislation, policies and governance, and finally geopolitical instability.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713525002841?via%3Dihub
16 June| Food Safety News and Free Resources |
🏥 Outbreaks: Hepatitis A (United Kingdom)
⚠ Recall: Smoked Herring for Clostridium botulinum (USA)
🔎 Smoke flavourings re-assessed by EFSA
⚠ Warning: Materials from recycled abandoned environmental plastic are unsuitable (FSA)
🎓Webinar - How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life, 26th June
🎓Webinar - Listeria: The Inconvenient Truth, 10th July
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🏥 Outbreaks: Hepatitis A (United Kingdom)
Two clusters of hepatitis A have been reported in the United Kingdom, with 31 and 64 cases, respectively. The cases are spread across various regions. The first cluster is suspected to have a foodborne source, and consumption of a particular food from one retailer has been frequently reported in food surveys completed by the victims. The food and retailer have not yet been named. The second cluster also appears to be food-related.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/06/ukhsa-probes-rise-in-hepatitis-a-cases/
⚠ Recall: Smoked Herring for Clostridium botulinum (USA)
Salted smoked split herring in bulk containers (18 lbs. wooden boxes) has been recalled because it was found to be over 5 inches in length and uneviscerated, meaning it is potentially contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The product was distributed to dozens of retail stores, where it was destined for repacking into smaller packs or to be sold deli-style. The issue was discovered during a routine inspection by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspector and confirmed by laboratory tests.
🔎 Smoke flavourings re-assessed by EFSA
Three smoke flavouring primary products underwent safety reassessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and were found to be safe under the conditions of intended use.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691525002583?via%3Dihub
⚠ Warning: Materials from recycled abandoned environmental plastic are unsuitable (FSA)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have published advice for businesses advising them not to use “abandoned environmental plastic, including ocean-bound plastic, in food packaging.” However, they suggest that recycled plastic from controlled environments, such as kerbside collection, can be safely used for food packaging.
🎓Webinar - How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life, 26th June
In this webinar hosted by Food Safety Magazine, attendees will learn:
· Information needed before designing a challenge study.
· Conducting challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, common challenges, lab selection, and using predictive models.
· Interpreting and applying challenge study results.
Register here:
How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life Registration
🎓Webinar - Listeria: The Inconvenient Truth, 10th July
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is hosting a webinar on the changes to EU regulations, implications regarding established best practices, trade and Brexit, and compliance issues for Listeria.
Register here:
RSPH | Listeria: The Inconvenient Truth
In this week’s food fraud news:
📌 Warning for vanillin;
📌 Cranberry sauce saga continues;
📌 Methods for wine and bread authentication;
📌 Incidents affecting oranges, fish roe, cocoa beans, protein supplements, tea and more…
9 June| Food Safety News and Free Resources |
⚠ Mystery Salmonella outbreaks (UK, USA)
⚠ Recall: Sous vide cooked ham for Listeria monocytogenes (France)
🍎 Fruit and veg puree baby food pouches recalled for lead (USA)
🥤 Zero-sugar drink recalled for sugar (USA)
🥒 More strains of Salmonella in cucumbers (USA)
🍬 Food sold online found with major food safety breaches (United Kingdom)
🧪 Gluten in gluten-free foods (China)
☢ Emerging risks: Zearalenone and radioactivity in fats and oils?
⚖ FDA launches revised review process for chemicals on the market (USA)
🎓Webinar - Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility, 12th June
🎓Webinar - What’s Coming in SQF Edition 10: Key Draft Changes Explained, 18th June
⚠ Mystery Salmonella outbreaks (UK, USA)
An outbreak caused by the rare bacteria Salmonella saintpaul has sickened 25 people in the United Kingdom, many of them children under 5 years old, with no food linked to the illnesses. The cases were linked through routine surveillance.
In the US, there is an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis that is now affecting 129 patients. FDA investigators have started onsite inspections but have not revealed the food source or site.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/05/children-hit-hardest-in-uk-salmonella-outbreak/
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/06/fda-outbreak-investigations-continue-3
⚠ Recall: Sous vide cooked ham for Listeria monocytogenes (France)
A brand has recalled individual pouches of sous vide cooked ham for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
https://efoodalert.com/2025/05/14/recalls-and-alerts-may-13-14-2025/
🍎 Fruit and veg puree baby food pouches recalled for lead (USA)
One batch of one flavour of fruit and veg baby food has been recalled because it may contain high levels of lead. Information about the levels and possible source of the lead is not publicly available.
https://www.fox19.com/2025/05/18/publix-recalls-baby-food-pouches-over-concerns-about-lead-levels/
🥤 Zero-sugar drink recalled for sugar (USA)
More than nineteen thousand cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar cans have been recalled because the cans contain full-sugar product.
🥒 More strains of Salmonella in cucumbers (USA)
Following last month’s outbreak from Salmonella in cucumbers, the FDA has announced more strains of Salmonella have been found in cucumbers belonging to the implicated brand, collected from a distribution centre. The sample contained Salmonella montevideo, with the strain matching bacteria found in the patients. The brand at the centre of this outbreak, Bedner Growers, Florida, was also linked to outbreaks from Salmonella africana and Salmonella braenderup in cucumbers in 2024.
🍬 Food sold online found with shocking food safety breaches (United Kingdom)
The United Kingdom’s BBC News has investigated food sold on TikTok Shop and discovered sweets with missing or incorrect allergen declarations and ingredient information.
https://globalimportagent.com/2025/06/05/tiktok-shop-food-listings-and-the-risk-to-consumer-safety/
« Thank you to reader Andy K for the heads up on this one! »
🧪 Gluten in gluten-free foods (China)
A survey of gluten-free foods in China found more than 3 percent of samples contained more than 20 mg/kg of gluten, the Codex-recommended maximum. Some had more than 100 mg/kg. Food containing buckwheat, quinoa and millet was most likely to be affected, and this is thought to be due to cross-contact or comingling post-harvest or during processing.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202504.1865/v1 (not yet peer reviewed)
☢ Emerging risks: Zearalenone and radioactivity in fats and oils
On 29 May, the food safety and food fraud information platform FoodAkai notified me of two emerging hazards (biological, chemical and fraud hazards) that “were not reported before” in edible fats and oils:
Radioactivity,
zearalenone (a mycotoxin).
Note, I didn’t find any records of zearalenone or radioactivity in fats or oils in European or US FDA records (one alert for zearalenone in cereals and bakery products from Romania), and I’m unsure of the origin of this information within the FoodAkai system.
Source: by email, from FoodAkai
⚖ FDA launches revised review process for chemicals on the market (USA)
The FDA announced on May 15 that it was launching a more systematic review process for chemicals, with a draft for public comment released soon. Chemicals that are most concerning to consumers will be prioritised.
🎓Webinar - Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility, 12th June
In this webinar hosted by Food Safety Magazine, participants will learn about the ban on red dye 3 and other key additives currently under review. The session will highlight proposed changes to state and federal GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) regulations and discuss the impact on the industry.
Register here: Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility Registration
🎓Webinar - What’s Coming in SQF Edition 10: Key Draft Changes Explained, 18th June
Eurofins Assurance is hosting an exclusive webinar that outlines the draft changes from Edition 9 to Edition 10, ensuring you remain compliant and proactive.
Register here: What’s Coming in SQF Edition 10: Key Draft Changes Explained
In this week’s food fraud news:
📌 Fake butter;
📌 Fake olive oil;
📌 False welfare claims for beef cattle;
📌 Forged certificates of origin and more…