Bill Marler examines a new White House policy that discourages criminal enforcement of food safety violations unless intent is proven, potentially reducing prosecutions for outbreaks like those linked to Peanut Corporation or Blue Bell.

The disbanding of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, crucial for such cases, further raises concerns about future food safety accountability.

What to know: Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC, a San Fernando-based manufacturer of ready-to-eat sandwiches and snacks, has faced repeated food safety violations since 2009.

FDA inspection records show ongoing concerns about sanitation and hazard controls.

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Listeria infections remained steady and seven outbreaks were investigated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in 2024.

There were 179 cases of listeriosis reported in England and Wales in 2024, compared to 177 in 2023.

Montana is one of five states that ban the manufacture and sale of lab-grown meat, and the state is aggressively enforcing its ban.

Beef production is huge in Montana, with 23,800 farms and ranches with an average size of 2,412 acres, making the state’s agricultural sector larger than oil and gas, mining or tourism.

Two FAO and WHO committees have had their local meetings recently with issues specific to each region discussed.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific met in Nadi, Fiji, in February.