CDC, FDA share stage at European WGS event
Also, insights from EFSA, ECDC, Ireland, Denmark, and France
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Singapore expands role of WHO collaborating center
A partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO) and Singapore has been expanded to include risk assessment. Singapore Food Agency’s (SFA) National Centre for Food Science (NCFS) has been a WHO collaborating center since 1992 focused on food contamination monitoring.
Indonesia urged to act to stop meal program poisonings
The Indonesian Government has been urged to stop its case-by-case approach to poisoning incidents connected to the school meals program. The MBG Watch Coalition said the government should declare an official food poisoning outbreak or a food safety emergency. In January 2025, the government launched a Free Nutritious
Young girl dies after contracting HUS
A young girl has died in Australia from a serious condition that develops after an E. coli infection. The 3-year-old girl fell ill after visiting a farm in Victoria where she held, rode and petted animals. The news was announced on a GoFundMe page for the family, which
Asian countries rehearse food incident response
Eleven Asian countries have rehearsed preparation for a cross-border food contamination event. All 11 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Jakarta, Indonesia, in July for a food safety emergency response simulation exercise. ASEAN includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Foodborne illnesses
New Zealand and French studies call attention to Campylobacter
A study in New Zealand has provided an insight into Campylobacter contamination and antimicrobial resistance in fresh chicken. Campylobacter was detected in 50 percent of 24 samples. Among confirmed isolates, there were high levels of resistance to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, while the majority were susceptible to erythromycin.
German survey finds limited mycotoxin awareness
Scientists are aware of 650 different mycotoxins produced by 400 species of mold.
Alert issued by officials in Hong Kong about formaldehyde in rice noodles
Authorities in Hong Kong have issued a warning about a brand of imported rice noodles because of formaldehyde. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said a pre-packaged rice vermicelli sample from Taiwan contained trace amounts of formaldehyde.
Polish analysis finds outbreaks increasing
The majority of outbreaks were bacterial, among which the most prevalent were Salmonella incidents, with 80 percent because of Salmonella Enteritidis.
Supplements dominate cross-border alerts in Europe
Twenty alerts mentioned the United States
Scientists flag Listeria as an emerging threat in Pakistan
Researchers have warned about a rise of Listeria infections in Pakistan and called for public health measures to control and prevent cases. Human listeriosis is not a notifiable disease and there is no active surveillance system or targeted research for the pathogen in the country. Listeria monocytogenes contaminated foods
Audit costs, time, and resources among key concerns in survey
A survey on audits has revealed they are valued but there is a need to shift perceptions from them being seen as a costly obligation. Recurring themes were concerns about compliance-driven approaches, auditor shortages, audit fatigue, digital readiness, and the potential of internal checks, according to a report from
Scientists push for toxoplasmosis recognition
Scientists have called for toxoplasmosis to be listed as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Toxoplasma parasite can cause ocular toxoplasmosis, an eye infection that damages the retina and results in permanent vision loss. People can become infected through eating raw or undercooked meat, contaminated
IAEA project to look at edible insect safety
Another project is trying to improve the uptake and application of food irradiation
Eggs blamed in Chinese Salmonella outbreak
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Swiss scientists reveal Listeria trends
An analysis of Listeria in Switzerland covering six years has revealed several outbreaks and sporadic cases connected to international incidents. Researchers collected 335 Listeria monocytogenes isolates from cases of listeriosis occurring in Switzerland between 2019 and 2024. They have recently published the results and said they show the
Proposals put forward to boost Croatian surveillance
Three options have been identified to improve disease surveillance in Croatia with current challenges including fragmented systems and a lack of resources. Campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis are the most prevalent foodborne bacterial diseases in the country. Between 2013 and 2023, there were more than 16,000 Campylobacter cases and 13,000
EU countries test safety of plant-based products
Food agencies from 15 European countries have assessed the safety of plant-based alternatives, finding sporadic contamination. The report, published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) details the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat (RTE) plant-based dairy, meat and fish substitutes. Testing included enumeration of total viable counts,
Initial source unknown in Dutch hepatitis A outbreak
Scientists have been unable to pinpoint the route of contamination in a hepatitis A outbreak traced to blueberries. Twenty-four patients in the Netherlands became ill from November 2024 to February 2025 as part of the hepatitis A outbreak.
Ill food handler caused outbreak despite following protocols
A sick food handler likely contaminated items served at an event in Australia despite preparing food after symptoms had stopped, according to researchers. An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness was reported among people at a private function in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2024. The organizer reported to ACT Health