Industry update – Food safety developments, recalls and incidents (May 2025)

In this article we welcome guest author and industry expert, Alec Kyriakides, to explore some of the food safety developments, recalls and incidents that have happened recently.

 

Food Safety Developments

 

Food Fraud

Hot on the heels of last month’s update where four men were convicted for diverting meat that was unfit for human consumption into the food chain, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced the prosecution of an abattoir that was found to have obstructed FSA officers from carrying out their regulatory duties in inspecting the premise. The fine amounted to £60 000. In a further move to protect consumers from food fraud, additional investigative powers were granted to the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), enabling the NFCU investigators to apply for and execute search warrants.

 

Recycling of Ocean Plastics

The FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has published new advice following a review of the assessment undertaken by its Joint Expert Group for Food Contact Materials (FCMJEG) on the use of ocean bound plastics (OBP) in food contact materials (FCMs) including food packaging for meat, poultry and fish sold in supermarkets. The FSA and FSS have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to confirm the safety of this type of plastic used in food packaging and are therefore advising businesses not to use abandoned environmental plastic, including ocean bound plastic, in food packaging.

 

Understanding the impacts of food allergy

Foos Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has announced a novel study to consider how food hypersensitivity (FHS) affects the quality of life of people in Australia and New Zealand. The research involves individuals living with a food allergy, coeliac disease or food intolerance and aims to identify which impacts of living with food hypersensitivity most affect their quality of life and how people value reductions in their food hypersensitivities.

 

Food Safety Standards: A Guide

FSANZ has a long-established guide, Safe Food Australia – A guide to the food safety standards. This provides guidance to the four mandatory food safety standards, namely Standard 3.1.1 Interpretation and Application, Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools and Standard 3.2.3 Food Premises and Equipment. Although primarily aimed at government agencies who are responsible for enforcing the standards, it contains a wealth of food safety information of use to food businesses.

 

Food Colour Legislative Changes

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has followed its announcement in April regarding its intention to phase out petroleum based synthetic dyes with the approval of three food colours from natural sources for use in a defined range of foods. These include Galdieria extract blue from the unicellular red alga, Galdieria sulphuraria, butterfly pea flower extract from the dried flower petals of the butterfly pea plant and calcium phosphate.

 

Post-market chemical review

The US FDA announced a stronger, more systematic review process for food chemicals already on the market, especially those that concern consumers most. It is planning a modernized, evidence-based prioritization scheme for reviewing existing chemicals, a final, systematic post-market review process shaped by stakeholder input and an updated list of chemicals under review, including BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), and ADA (azocarbonamide). The FDA will also take steps to expedite its review of chemicals currently under review like phthalates, propylparaben, and titanium dioxide.

 

UK Data on Listeriosis

The Uk Health Security Agency (UK HSA) published its latest data on listeriosis. It reported 179 cases of listeriosis in 2024 compared to 177 in the previous year (2023). The data highlighted that listeriosis poses a significantly greater risk to vulnerable groups, with the highest numbers seen in people aged 80 and over. Of the 28 deaths reported among 142 non-pregnancy cases, 12 were aged 80 years and over. Among pregnancy-associated infections, which accounted for approximately one-fifth of all cases, 43.7% resulted in stillbirth or miscarriage where outcomes were known. In England, London had the highest levels of listeriosis (0.39 cases per 100,000 population), whilst the East of England had the lowest (0.23 cases per 100,000 population).

 

Foodborne disease outbreaks

 An outbreak of salmonellosis affecting 25 people including 13 young children has been reported in the UK with 5 people hospitalised. No food has been implicated although S. Saintpaul, the causative serotype has previously been implicated in an outbreak due to cantaloupe melons. A multistate outbreak of salmonellosis due to whole cucumbers was reported in the USA. A total of 26 people across 15 states have so far been affected with 9 hospitalisations. This has resulted in widespread public recalls (see below). A salmonellosis outbreak implicating backyard poultry was also reported in the USA, across 35 states and causing illnesses in 104 individuals with 25 hospitalisations and 1 death. A San Diego restaurant has been implicated in a salmonellosis outbreak with over 90 alleged cases with wraps being a possible source. A long standing outbreak of listeriosis in the USA was reportedly confirmed as being caused by sandwiches and snack foods. The outbreak caused 10 infections with all cases being hospitalised. An outbreak of E. coli O145 in the USA that has caused 11 confirmed cases is under investigation to determine the source.

 

Food Recall Highlights

 The data used for this food recall highlights review is sourced from open access recall databases covering different countries and continents including the USA (Food & Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture), the UK (Food Standards Agency), Germany (Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety) and Australia (Food Standards Australia New Zealand).

 

Microbiological recalls were dominated by the widespread salmonellosis outbreak implicating cucumbers in the USA, although Salmonella spp. in tomatoes has also reared its head again. Listeria monocytogenes contamination of foods prompted a wide number of recalls across a breadth of foods.

 

Allergen recalls were dominated by undeclared gluten and milk although one recall was prompted by an unusual allergen, lupin. Multiple allergens also drove a large number of recalls.

 

Physical contamination events were few and far between this month although the usual contaminants predominated i.e. glass, metal and plastic

 

Chemical recalls were varied although mycotoxins were the dominant cause once again,

 

   

Author

Alec Kyriakides

Independent Food Safety Consultant