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Are you ready for FSMA 204? ⏳ With the deadline approaching, experts shared valuable information at the Global Organic Produce Expo on how to implement the Food Traceability Rule. Don't fall behind on this important regulation aimed at ensuring food safety! 🍅👩🏻🔬

The European Union has published guidance documents on food hygiene regulations for cell-cultivated meat and edible insects, marking a significant milestone in establishing clarity and regulatory frameworks for these emerging food technologies. These guidelines offer producers a roadmap to navigate existing hygiene standards, ensuring consumer safety and market access. This development represents a major step forward for the novel foods category in Europe. For more details: https://lnkd.in/ewC4kn4w Read the full guidance document here: https://lnkd.in/exRTXBEm #EU #EFSA #NovelFoods #Foodhygiene

Are you ready for FSMA 204? ⏳ With the deadline approaching, experts shared valuable information at the Global Organic Produce Expo on how to implement the Food Traceability Rule. Don't fall behind on this important regulation aimed at ensuring food safety! 🍅👩🏻🔬 

🔷 Food Guidelines Adherence vs Compliance 🍃 The terms “adherence” and “compliance” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings, especially in the context of #food #guidelines and #regulations. ✳ #Adherence Adherence refers to the extent to which individuals or organizations follow recommended guidelines or standards. In the context of food guidelines, adherence might involve: Following Dietary Guidelines: For example, adhering to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans involves consuming a balanced diet that meets nutrient needs, promotes health, and prevents disease. Voluntary Practices: Adherence can also include voluntary practices that go beyond legal requirements, such as adopting sustainable farming practices or implementing additional food safety measures. ✳ #Compliance Compliance, on the other hand, refers to the act of meeting or conforming to specific regulations or standards set by authoritative bodies. In the food industry, compliance typically involves: Legal Requirements: Ensuring that food products meet the safety standards set by regulatory bodies like the FDA, EFSA, or Codex Alimentarius. Mandatory Inspections and Certifications: Undergoing regular inspections and obtaining necessary certifications to verify that food safety protocols are being followed. ♻ Key Differences ◾ Voluntary vs. Mandatory: Adherence is often voluntary and can reflect a commitment to best practices, while compliance is mandatory and legally enforced. ◾ Scope: Adherence can be broader, encompassing both regulatory requirements and additional voluntary measures. Compliance is specifically about meeting legal standards. ◾ Motivation: Adherence is driven by a desire to follow best practices and improve overall quality, whereas compliance is driven by the need to meet legal obligations and avoid penalties. Understanding these differences is crucial for anyone involved in the food industry, as both adherence and compliance play vital roles in ensuring food safety, quality, and consumer trust.

#Juice #Safety From the growers’ farm to your refrigerator, safety is the top #priority for companies in the #juice #industry. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (#HAACP) addresses “the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.” Making #100%juice is remarkably simple. The three basic steps are: Wash the fruits or vegetables; Extract the juice by pressing the produce; And lastly, juice is typically heat pasteurized for food safety. The juice industry is committed to providing safe, high-quality, nutritious juice that meets or exceeds regulations. Juice producers regularly conduct their own testing to ensure quality control and the safety and compliance of their products. #Heavy_metals are naturally occurring elements found in the soil and environment. The presence of a heavy metal in a food product alone does not make that product unsafe. There is no scientific evidence indicating that the presence of trace levels of heavy metals in juice has caused any negative health outcomes among individuals at any life stage. According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines, 100% juice is a healthful, nutrient-dense beverage, which contributes beneficial nutrients to the diet and can be a healthy part of the diet of children. Juice producers make safety a priority 365-days-a-year. Consumers can be assured that juice is safe. The juice industry is committed to providing safe, quality and nutritious juices and complies with all federal regulations for food safety. People are not being over-exposed to #lead by drinking juice. The data collected by the FDA indicates there is no safety concern for lead in juice. Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. Lead can be found in all parts of our environment – the air, the soil, the water, and even inside our homes. Therefore, many products including fruits that come from nature may contain trace, harmless amounts of lead. Similar for #arsenic and #cadmium Juice Processing While making juice is called “processing,” the process is not complicated and does not impact the quality or nutritional value of 100% juice. Further benefits of commercially-made juice are that it makes high-quality product available year-round, provides #vitamins and #nutrients from the fruit or vegetable, and follows strict procedures to ensure food safety. Juice & Contaminants The juice industry is committed to providing safe, quality and nutritious juices and complies with all federal regulations for food safety.

COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2024/2895 of 20 November 2024 amending Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 as regards Listeria monocytogenes ❗❗❗ "... the European Food Safety Authority (the ‘Authority’) observed that the number of cases of listeriosis in humans in the Union was 15.9 % higher in 2022 than in 2021 and the number of deaths from foodborne outbreaks and caused by Listeria monocytogenes in the Union in 2022 was one of the highest numbers ever reported to the Authority in the last ten years. In view of this upsurge of listeriosis cases in the Union, it is crucial that food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes can offer a high and consistent level of protection of consumers throughout the food chain." "...In order to guarantee the same level of public health protection from production to distribution for ready-to-eat foods other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes that are able to support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, the food safety criterion ‘Listeria monocytogenes not detected in 25 g’ should apply to all situations where those foods are placed on the market during their shelf-life and for which the producing food business operator has not been able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the competent authority, that the level of Listeria monocytogenes will not exceed the limit of 100 cfu/g throughout their shelf-life." The new text in 1.2 of the Annex is: "L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods able to support the growth of L. monocytogenes if the producing food business operator has not been able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the competent authority, that the level of L. monocytogenes will not exceed the limit of 100 cfu/g throughout the shelf-life of the foods: — satisfactory, if all the values observed indicate the bacterium is not detected in any of the sample units, — unsatisfactory, if the presence of the bacterium is detected in any of the sample units." To allow food business operators sufficient time to adapt their practices and procedures to the new requirement, this Regulation should not apply before 1 July 2026 ❗❗❗ #foodsafety #foodlaw #EU #Listeriamonocytogenes #food #eulaw

Recently, Impossible Foods has taken a major step towards launching its plant-based burger in the European Union. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled that the key ingredient in the Impossible Burger, soy leghemoglobin or "heme", does not raise any safety concerns. 🍔 🌿 Heme is a crucial component that gives the Impossible Burger its meat-like taste and aroma. It is derived from a genetically modified yeast strain. The EFSA's positive assessment of heme marks the first regulatory milestone for the company in Europe, where it has been seeking approval since 2019. While the EFSA's opinion is still provisional, pending further review by a panel that studies genetically modified foods, it represents significant progress for Impossible Foods. The company has been absent from the European market thus far due to the region's stringent food safety regulations. Europe is the world's biggest market for plant-based meat and seafood alternatives, making it a crucial battleground for companies like Impossible Foods. ⚖️ 🇪🇺 Authorities in several other major markets, including the US, Canada, Australia, and Singapore, have already deemed heme safe for human consumption. However, the European Commission has some of the most comprehensive food safety requirements globally. 🌍 If Impossible Foods can navigate the remaining regulatory hurdles, it will be able to offer its flagship burger to European consumers, who have shown greater receptiveness to plant-based meat alternatives compared to their US counterparts. #meatalternatives #plantbasedfoods

BVO. Perfectly safe — right up until it’s banned 🤦 Today, the FDA announced a long overdue ban of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food, marking a major, if not belated, win for public health. Studies have shown BVO can harm the nervous system, and it’s banned from drinks sold in Europe and Japan. In the US, California led the charge with its Food Safety Act banning BVO in 2023. It used to be found in a wide range of citrus-flavored drinks, until a 2012 change.org petition brought attention to the health problems relating to BVO. Under market pressure, many brands removed it from their products. But BVO is still often found in so-called off-brand products, including store-brand products and lesser-known, smaller brands that are sometimes sold regionally. As author of the California Food Safety Act, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel said: “While the FDA’s announcement is a step forward, allowing BVO to remain in foods for so long despite clear evidence of harm highlights a glaring failure in our food safety system. The FDA must act quickly to expedite its reviews and do more to remove harmful and toxic chemicals from our food supply”. What can you do? ✅ Check labels to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. ✅ Visit EWG’s Guide to Food Additives and Food Scores to learn more about what’s in the food you are consuming! More on BVO here: https://ewg.life/4cmrWHk #FDA #FoodSafety #BVOBan #EWG #HealthyChoices

How Mycotoxin Testing is Transforming Food Safety Protocols 🚨 Food safety is undergoing a significant transformation, with mycotoxin testing emerging as a key component in ensuring safe, high-quality products for consumers. Mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by certain fungi, pose a serious threat to food and feed safety worldwide, affecting crops such as cereals, nuts, and fruits. 🎯 Market Growth: The global mycotoxin testing market is projected to reach USD 2.3 billion by 2029, growing at a robust CAGR of 6.7%. This growth is driven by increasing awareness of food safety regulations, stricter compliance standards, and the rising demand for safer food products. 💡 Why It Matters: Enhanced Detection Technologies: Advanced testing methods like HPLC, mass spectrometry, and ELISA are improving accuracy and speed. Regulatory Compliance: With stricter global standards (e.g., EU regulations), food producers must implement rigorous testing protocols to minimize contamination risks. Consumer Safety: Mycotoxin testing ensures that harmful substances like aflatoxins and ochratoxins are kept out of the food chain, protecting public health. 🌍 Industry Impact: Mycotoxin testing is becoming indispensable, not just for regulatory compliance but as a competitive advantage. As food safety becomes a top priority, companies investing in robust testing protocols will build stronger consumer trust and brand reputation. 🔗 Let’s connect to discuss the future of food safety and how innovations like mycotoxin testing are leading the way! #FoodSafety #Mycotoxins #FoodTesting #FoodIndustry #QualityControl #InnovationInFoodSafety #MarketGrowth #PublicHealth #Compliance

Understanding AMR: The Importance of Monitoring Residues In our discussions about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), several pressing questions emerged, particularly regarding the monitoring of residue elements in consumable animals—specifically, the beef we enjoy marinating and steaming from our favorite butchers. Two potential solutions surfaced during the conversation: 1. Freezing and Withdrawal Time Lags: Implementing freezing methods and adhering to recommended withdrawal times can help mitigate the risks associated with antibiotic residues in meat. These practices ensure that any harmful residues dissipate before the meat reaches consumers. 2. Inspection and Certification: Ensuring that the meat we consume is inspected and certified by qualified inspectors can significantly enhance food safety. This step helps guarantee that the beef is free from harmful residues and is safe for consumption. While it’s true that frozen beef from high-end restaurants and hotels may lack the distinct flavor that comes with fresh, fermented beef, the safety benefits of choosing frozen options cannot be overstated. AMR is a real and persistent issue that requires immediate action. Prevention is key, and as consumers, we must be informed and proactive in our choices. By advocating for better monitoring and inspection practices, we can contribute to a safer food supply and help combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Let's take action now for a healthier future.