Our Scans · Food tech · Weekly Summary

• [New] As 2026 gets underway, the food safety sector faces a mix of changes that will demand attention now, and others that will take longer to materialize. Food Safety
• While drinking-water testing leads regulatory activity now, the European Food Safety Authority's scientific opinion on microplastics in food, due by the end of 2027, could prove a major inflection point. Science and Medicine Group
• IFT's 2026 report finds food science salaries are rising, with US median pay at US$120,000 and entry-level median salaries at US$ 76,000.Scientific misinformation is the top concern for food professionals, while AI is seen more as a skills-development priority than an immediate job threat. CNS Media
• As environmental concern and food safety consciousness increase globally, overseas markets are increasingly focusing on traceable and eco-certified seafood product markets-opportunities where U.S. producers have a unique advantage. IMARC Group
• Future progress will depend on expanding high-quality datasets, validating AI systems across diverse populations, and implementing responsible governance frameworks to ensure that AI-enabled food innovation benefits global health without exacerbating existing inequalities. News-Medical
• In the context of increasing global trade, evolving consumer expectations, climate-linked risks, and rapid technological advancements, food safety is now a critical pillar of public health, economic growth, and global competitiveness. CII FSQR@20 Summit 2026
• HACCP requirements for meat, poultry, and egg products are established by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service in its Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations for meat and poultry establishments. Allera Technologies
• With advanced production capacity and well-established food safety practices, North America's long-term pork exports to Asia Pacific and Latin America will further support its growth. Custom Market Insights
• The European Food Safety Authority did not conclude that allulose is unsafe, it concluded that safety could not yet be established based on the information available. FoodNavigator.com
• The European Food Safety Authority already conducts recurring horizon scans of new scientific literature on genomic techniques and has previously advised the Commission on risk-assessment criteria for NGT plants. Genetic Engineering and Society Center
• (Senasica; USDA) - CultiVida association warned that illegal agrochemicals already account for up to 25% of sales in some regions of Peru, posing risks to public health, food safety, the environment and agricultural productivity. LinkedIn
• Unsafe food causes around 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, many of which could be prevented with measures including improved water, sanitation and hygiene, food safety practices such as pasteurization and access to health care for vulnerable populations. World Health Organization: WHO
• Growing emphasis on food safety, sustainability, anti-counterfeiting, product traceability, and circular economy initiatives continues creating significant opportunities across the global smart packaging ecosystem. Pheonix Research
• Innovation: Companies like Unilever are investing in R&D and Artificial Intelligence tools to predict PCR behaviour at the molecular level, overcoming the gray tint and meeting food safety standards. Envapack.com Revista del Empaque, Envase y Embalaje
• Baby food safety will be strengthened with a ban on products containing toxic heavy metals like lead or arsenic that exceed FDA limits in Virginia. Scripps News
• The EU has a regulatory framework that food companies in the Netherlands will have to adhere to: the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Frontiers
• Texas' ban on cell-cultured proteins does not fall within the scope of the PPIA's preemption clause because it is a complete sales ban and has no impact on food safety or behaviours that could lead to an adulterated chicken product. Southern Ag Today

Last updated: 21 September 2026