It’s Thursday, October 16, 2025. Today’s newsletter highlights major food safety developments — from alarming lead levels found in protein shakes to a pivotal legal battle over Montana’s ‘Food Freedom’ law.
What to know: Consumer Reports is urging the FDA to establish strict limits on lead in protein powders and shakes in light of its new investigation that found troubling levels of toxic heavy metals in the samples it tested.
The First Judicial District Court in Montana is the venue for the ongoing dispute that pits a former state commercial food safety officer against several assistant attorney generals. It may be nearing some conclusion soon through either a settlement conference or a ruling from the bench.
Ad by Bio-Rad
When production moves fast, testing needs to keep pace
Modern food manufacturing operates at speeds that didn't exist when traditional testing protocols were established. Production lines process thousands of units per hour. Distribution networks move products globally within days. Testing methodology hasn't kept pace.
Bio-Rad spent two decades building iQ-Check into the pathogen detection technology food manufacturers trust worldwide. That expertise became the foundation for solving the industry's persistent challenge - delivering validated accuracy at modern production speeds.
EZ-Check Salmonella spp. Kit carries both AOAC International validation and AFNOR NF VALIDATION certification. Independent verification that our 2-step workflow maintains the detection sensitivity your brand reputation requires.
Multiplex amplification with built-in internal controls prevents false negatives while eliminating steps that extend processing time without improving accuracy. Your laboratory team gets reliable results. Your operations team gets faster release times.
Bio-Rad's commitment to detection accuracy remains absolute. EZ-Check delivers that accuracy through workflows built for contemporary manufacturing environments.
The European Commission has lost a court case brought by a fish company relating to a piece of regulation.
The General Court ruled that the EU Commission failed to consult the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before introducing new legislation, so it should be annulled.
Malta has officially launched a new food agency bringing food safety functions together under one structure.
Prime Minister Robert Abela said the Food Safety and Security Authority will enhance governance and the protection of food security.
Recent Recalls
Thank you for trusting Food Safety News to keep your kitchen safe. We’ll be back tomorrow to close out the week!
Daily Poll
How will you respond to lead in protein shakes? 💪🥤
Don’t forget…
Do you know someone who would like this newsletter? Share it with them.
Interested in reaching food safety-conscious readers like you? To become a Food Safety News partner, apply here.
Ad Disclaimer:
Sources: Average recall cost of $10 million from FDA estimates (Longbow Advantage, 2024; Trace One, 2024; Meritech). Consumer behavior data from Trustwell 2021 Consumer Sentiment Report showing 18% permanent brand abandonment and 43% temporary abandonment following illness-related recalls. Food recall increase of 20% between 2020-2023 from FDA and USDA data analysis (Food Safety Magazine, 2024).