The FDA will convene an Expert Panel on Food Allergies on Oct. 10, featuring FDA Commissioner Marty A. Makary and Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas. The panel, consisting of independent scientific experts, will review current evidence, assess health risks and provide recommendations regarding food allergies. The event will be livestreamed and open for limited in-person attendance with required registration.

A recent study indicates that although Listeria monocytogenes does not grow on intact pears, it can survive for up to seven months in controlled atmosphere storage. The study, led by Laura Strawn of Virginia Tech, highlights the effectiveness of antimicrobial wrapping in reducing Listeria levels and inhibiting the plant pathogen Penicillium expansum.

The United Sorghum Checkoff Program has launched its first human clinical trial assessing the health effects of whole grain sorghum. The randomized crossover study will track adults with obesity to determine how daily consumption of two sorghum varieties impacts key health markers. The trial marks a pivotal step in translating promising animal and in vitro research into human health outcomes.

Students from the Rochester Institute of Technology have won the Flexible Packaging Association's Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge with the EZ PB&J Pouch, a single-use package featuring separate compartments for peanut butter and jelly. The second-place Pancake Pack, created by students from California Polytechnic State University, is a pre-portioned pancake mix package.

Industrial hemp is emerging as a sustainable alternative for food packaging, offering eco-friendly solutions to reduce plastic waste. Hemp's rapid growth, low water usage and carbon sequestration make it an attractive material. The study highlights green processing technologies such as enzymatic hydrolysis and supercritical CO2 extraction to enhance the functionality of hemp fibers for packaging. However, challenges such as feedstock heterogeneity and scalability need to be addressed for large-scale adoption.

Interested in the SQF Program but don't know where to start? SQF Certification is possible for every supplier at all levels of the food industry, from farm to fork.