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Newsletter Volume 14, Issue 29  

Hi FSQA Professional, In this issue we have two FST Soap Box Op-Eds from Shahram Ajamian and Dr. Sanjay Gummalla. The federal government is shutdown as I write this so the FDA's weekly CORE update seemed worth publishing. Barabara Kowalcyk's IFSAN is offering a one day workshop on Data Culture, which I will attend.

The Food Safety Consortium conference that I developed 13 years ago and now run with our partner, AFFI, is in a few weeks in DC. Sanjay, Shahram, Caitlin, Barbara , Darin and I will be there. I hope you are too! There's still time to register.

As always, you can read the most current news and search archived FSQA articles from FST's Home Page.

Thanks for spending part of your day with Food Safety Tech. Until next week, Cheers! Rick Biros, Content Director, Publisher and Founder. 

"The food industry is at a turning point. It is time to move past fragmented assessments and toward a harmonized risk model that combines science, data, governance, and human behavior. By doing this, we can strengthen resilience, protect public health, and build the trust on which our food system depends."   By Shahram Ajamian  

Learn, Network and Develop: Join Me at the Food Safety Consortium!

"Events like the Food Safety Consortium are more than a conference, they are platforms for building a stronger network of professionals and advancing food safety culture across our industry. You’ll have the chance to connect with regulators, suppliers, QA leaders, and peers who face the same challenges you do, and return to your company with better understanding, innovative tools and new ideas that make a difference."  By Sanjay Gummalla, Ph.D.

Due to the absence of either a fiscal year 2026 appropriation or a Continuing Resolution, only certain government activities will continue. While FDA will continue to conduct foodborne outbreak surveillance and response activities, the CORE Investigation Table will not be updated weekly during this time.

The FDA is taking this action to require import certification after U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected high levels of Cesium-137 in multiple shipments of shrimp and in a sample of cloves from certain regions of Indonesia and the FDA’s laboratory confirmed contamination in food samples, in addition to other evidence and information reviewed by the FDA.

Whether the end consumer is a child snacking on peanut butter crackers or a dog chewing jerky treats, the hazards—and many of the prevention strategies—overlap far more than most realize. Understanding these connections can strengthen food safety across sectors, protecting both people and pets.

Editors Note: One of the authors, Caitlin Karolenko, PhD will be presenting at the 2025 Food Safety Consortium in the session titled: Dry Doesn’t Mean Safe: Pathogens in Low Moisture Foods. For more information go to FoodSafetyConsortium.org and click on Agenda.

Could the Right Digital Tools Transform EUDR Compliance from Burden to Advantage?

Is digitalization the solution to EUDR compliance complexities? The right tools create unique business opportunities for early adopters in the European Union market. 

Advancing Food Safety: The Data Culture Imperative

For years, stakeholders have recognized the power of data to advance food safety and provide actionable insights that prevent illnesses and promote health and well-being. Effectively leveraging these data begins with changing the mindset and practices around how data is collected, analyzed and used to inform decision-making – in other words, creating a positive data culture. A positive data culture empowers stakeholders to move beyond compliance and into predictive, preventative action, enabling earlier detection of risk factors and faster response times that can significantly reduce the likelihood and impact foodborne illness. Attend this One Day Conference hosted by Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security (IFSAN), October 9, 2025 in Washington DC

Frustrated with audit “repeats” Are you tired of saying “But we fixed that!!!”? Oct. 29

This webinar will review the “corrective action” (CA) process, which will include examples of how to truly use this “process” to an advantage, reducing “repeats.”  More Info

The Link between Food Safety and Cybersecurity. Nov. 11

This forward-thinking webinar brings together two essential domains to explore how cyber threats can directly impact food safety, and what proactive steps industry professionals can take to mitigate risk  More Info

Dr. Ben Reading and Jason Bushura discuss the need for a unified, risk-based U.S. food protection system. Watch this 26 minute recorded webinar

Dr. Darin Detwiler to lead Goal Oriented Leadership Communication Workshop at the Food Safety Consortium

The pre-conference workshop led by Dr. Darin Detwiler, a professor, author, and internationally recognized food safety expert, this interactive workshop will explore best-in-class communication strategies rooted in behavioral science.

Information Security for the Food Industry

As the food industry becomes more digitized, the protection of sensitive data – whether it's supplier details or consumer information – has never been more critical. Food companies face increasing cyber risks as they adopt smarter technologies and connected systems.

This white paper, "Information Security for the Food Industry," explores the growing importance of cybersecurity across food operations and provides insight into how businesses can safeguard digital assets while staying compliant with industry standards.

Whether you're a food manufacturer, distributor, or part of the global supply chain, this guide will help you navigate the complex intersection of technology and data protection.

Download White Paper