Articles - Food Safety

Managing microbial risks in plant-based dairy and meat alternatives: from raw material variability to effective processing and hygiene strategies across the supply chain.     Introduction   Consumers are increasingly opting for plant-based alternatives to dairy and meat, driven by environmental concerns, lifestyle choices, and health [...]

While promoting sustainability, plant-based diets may increase mycotoxin exposure; new evidence shows contamination risks in meat and milk analogues and the need for updated regulations.   Introduction   In recent years, there has been a significant transition towards plant-based diets, driven by concerns related to the health risks assoc [...]

On March 13, 2025, we hosted a webinar titled “Plant based milk alternatives: Nutritional value, food safety issues,” gathering experts across nutrition, allergen management, microbiology, and chemical safety. Moderated as a series of expert presentations, the webinar delved into the burgeoning plant based dairy market-examining its hea [...]

After 20 years of GMOs, a new method for plant variety creation has emerged, sparking debate between regulatory authorities and opposing NGOs. Let’s explore arguments for and against.   In several countries, creating new plant varieties through the so-called “geneediting” technology or New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), specifica [...]

 “Education of consumers, healthcare providers, food business operators, risk assessors and risk managers is critical to PAL management” (FAO/WHO 2021)             Introduction     What is PAL?  PAL means precautionary allergen labelling. It is sometimes also referred to as the “ [...]

Nowadays, we are exposed to thousands of chemicals in our daily lifes by many pathways of exposure, for example, by ingestion of food and water, inhalation of air and dust, dermal contact with personal care products, etc. In terms of public health, environmental monitoring is normally used to control the exposure of the population to these substanc [...]

In the last 20 years, aflatoxin M1 has been found in milk at unprecedented levels in southern Europe on several occasions. Is it the result of climate change? What do experts think about the risk to consumers, both now and in the future? Is the best approach to move from an M1 limit to a “total aflatoxin metabolites” limit?   Intro [...]

How the EU regulatory context for food contact materials and articles (FCMs) may change on the way to a toxin-free environment.   This article provides an overview of the most significant Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) and Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy updates that may be included in new European Union (EU) Food Contact Material (FC [...]

A focus on cereals.   A review of the impact of climate change on chemical exposures affecting human health identified 8 contaminants as high risk of getting worse due to climate change, one of which was mycotoxins (Balbus et al. 2013). Guerin (2022) evaluated the risks and responsibilities of Directors of companies that supply food in relatio [...]

Initiatives and efforts to meet stricter mycotoxin regulations are helping the country overcome contamination challenges in its domestic and export markets.       Brazil is one of the largest food producers and exporters in the world. It is the fourth-largest grain producer and the second-largest grain exporter, accounting for about [...]

An overview of MYTOX-SOUTH® activities and their goal of strengthening global capacity to tackle the mycotoxin problem and its associated food safety and food security issues.     The majority of the world’s food crops are contaminated with mycotoxins that have dangerous human health effects and cause significant food loss. The [...]

Novel and fully integrated management strategies to reduce and control mycotoxins - EU project under grant agreement n°678012.      At the international trade level, mycotoxin presence in foodstuffs has serious economic and sustainability consequences with significant implications for food and feed safety and food security. The E [...]

Affidia interviewed two of the principle players in testing inspection and certification of grain shipments to learn how real investigations are conducted and to understand the unmet challenges in this field.     Globalization has increased the international circulation of commodities. For some of these commodities, globalization has mean [...]

Dietary supplements: how natural contaminants may turn botanical remedies into a Pandora’s box.       Food supplements: a growing market trend  According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA 2009), food supplements are “concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological e [...]

The legalization of cannabis has opened the door both to new markets and new concerns about quality and safety. While analytical methods to detect fungal infection and mycotoxin occurrence in cannabis have been developed, questions still remain.       Cannabis products for medicinal and recreational use   Cannabis as an agricult [...]