Food Safety

Food brand operators are sweating more than the summer heat these days. From tariffs to regulatory moves impacting sourcing and food safety, Dataessential One’s Midyear Trend Report illustrates some of the most pressing topics companies are tracking and adapting to in the first half of the year.

The number of serious illnesses caused by a Listeria outbreak linked to contaminated deli meat continues to climb, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which last week reported a total of 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths across 19 states since its investigation began in July.

In light of recent supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has adjusted its New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative, including added priorities for worker safety and predicting potential food system disruptions, and a greater emphasis on safe food delivery to consumers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last week that it will not actively enforce certain areas of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). One provision in particular has the potential to impact CPG supply chains.

The Software as a Service (SaaS) provider announced last month that it received a $4.25 million investment from mission-based venture capital firm Renewal Funds. It follows an undisclosed 2015 investment in the provider of traceability, food safety and supply chain transparency software.

Hampton Creek CEO Joshua Tetrick spoke with NOSH about recent changes, including what he hopes his two newly named board members will bring to the table, why he’s looking beyond plants to meat and how licensing will play a role in the company’s future.

Using next-generation proprietary technology based on DNA sequencing and data management, California-based Clear Labs is seeking to modernize food safety, efficiency and authenticity throughout the industry — and it’s a system that investors are embracing, too.

More than 10 U.S. food companies issued voluntary recalls for products vulnerable to listeria last month — and the contamination is stemming from issues with a supplier, according to the individual recall notices. Bulletproof, GoMacro, Wildway, Trader Joe’s, Fresh Foods, Lantana, Marketside, Nature’s Path, Nature’s Promise, Woodstock, Market Basket, Publix and Wholesome Pantry were all affected.

During the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City this week, LeAnn Chuboff, the VP of Technical Affairs for the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute, and Robert Garfield, the chief food safety assessment officer and SVP for Food Marketing Institute, spoke about food safety’s newest trends and technology during a presentation at the newly debuted Level Up Experience. Here are four takeaways from the panel to keep your food safety nightmare from turning into a reality.

High Pressure Processing (HPP) has long been the hero of deli meats and, as of late, has become the innovation engine for a variety of beverage types. But a newly established trade group wants to push the technology beyond your turkey sandwich and green juice.