FoodSQA

Monitoring Trends in Food Safety
2026-08-14 13:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
I have been Monitoring Trends in Food Safety for almost 10 years. What did I learn? The main reason for recalls in both the US and Canada tends to be allergens, followed by microorganisms. There are relatively small fluctuations in the number of recalls over the years, but occasionally there is a bad year. It is essential to understand the reasons for the years of excessive recalls. For example, why was 2024 a bad year in the US? Other topics include Bird flu. Will it become an epidemic like COVID? The regulatory structure of the FDA was in turmoil over the past few years after the security crisis due to the infant formula. A new structure and a new commissioner was appointed, but he resigned after a few months. Where are we now? The USDA/FSIS proposed a plan to reduce Salmonella in poultry. After 3 years of work on the plan, it was withdrawn. Will it come back? Then, there is the traceability 204 rule. Why does it keep being delayed?

Food Safety Guidelines for Indoor Farming: Risk Assessment and Risk Management
2026-08-20 14:00 - 18:30
Cultivating plants within a contained environment, thereby protected from the elements, has a long history. Previously, indoor farming meant using greenhouses to increase productivity and extending growing seasons. The advent of enabling technologies such as LED lighting, energy management, robotics, and environmental control systems has enabled indoor farming to become economically viable for staple crop production. This has led to an increase in indoor farming facilities across the globe to enhance food production through local supply that is more protected against extreme weather events compared to conventional farming, thereby enhancing food security. There is also the perception that indoor farmed crops are protected from contamination from pathogens (e.g. Salmonella, toxigenic Escherichia coli) and chemical hazards, such as excessive pesticide residues, by being within a contained environment. However, several outbreaks and recalls have been associated with indoor farmed crops. Consequently, there is a need for a greater understanding of the sources of contamination and what risk management options are available to growers. To address this need, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been developing a publication on the food safety insights for various indoor farming systems. The first part of the presentation will provide an overview of the FAO mission and how the publication has been prepared. The second part of the presentation will describe the different elements and systems encompassed under the indoor farming umbrella. The sources of contamination via the different inputs within farming operations will be described along with the fate of pathogens (STEC, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes) when introduced on seed, growth substrate, and irrigation water. Interventions will be outlined to reduce contamination while maintaining plant growth performance and quality.
