Undeclared Allergens in Precautionary Labeled and Unlabeled Products on the Market: A Study on Granola Bars in South Africa and the United States

Consumers with food allergies rely on accurate labeling to avoid allergens, yet Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL) remains voluntary, inconsistently applied, and often misunderstood or ignored. This study evaluated the prevalence of PAL and the presence of undeclared allergens in granola bars from South Africa and the United States. Product labels were systematically reviewed to characterize PAL usage, and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify peptides corresponding to eight allergens. Consumer risk was assessed by comparing detected allergen levels to Codex Reference Doses (RfD) and VITAL® Eliciting Doses (ED). Results showed that 84% of products carried PAL statements, most commonly “may contain.” Analytical testing revealed undeclared allergens across a wide concentration range. One product contained undeclared milk at levels far exceeding established safety thresholds, while undeclared wheat was detected in eight samples. These findings highlight limitations of current PAL practices and support the need for standardized allergen thresholds, improved regulatory oversight, and clearer consumer communication.

Evaluation of the GENE-UP® Salmonella 2 Assay for Detecting Salmonella in Ground Beef: An AOAC OMA Collaborative Study

Salmonella causes an estimated 1.4 million cases of foodborne illness and over 400 deaths every year in the United States alone. As a result, the USDA-FSIS have recently proposed the tightening of the performance standards in identifying Salmonella spp. in ground beef and beef trimmings. It is critical, therefore, that the most robust and accurate analytical methods are available to detect low levels of Salmonella spp. The objective of this study was to statistically compare the method performance of the candidate method, GENE-UP Salmonella 2, against the reference method, USDA FSIS MLG 4.01. Results from this multi-laboratory collaborative study indicated that the GENE-UP Salmonella 2 method is a robust Real-time PCR method for the rapid detection of Salmonella spp. in raw ground beef. An Expert Review Panel formed within the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) granted Official Methods of Analysis℠ (OMA) First Action status to the GENE-UP Salmonella 2 assay (OMA certification number 2020.02). This designation will have a significant effect on increased market acceptance and integration of the method into routine use for beef producers.

NOTE: This study has been published in in the Journal of AOAC International and can be viewed by following this link: https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoacint/qsab005

An Examination of Social Media Utilization During Food Safety Risk Events

The distribution of food safety risk information has entered a new chapter with the emergence of various social media platforms which allow faster dissemination of information in crisis scenarios. However, identifying the most effective means of virtual correspondence can become problematic due to limited research on consumer preference towards message delivery formats during food safety risk events. This study examined the most frequently accessed social media outlets used by the public for knowledge on food hazard reports. A web-based survey tool was used to collect data from 165 respondents regarding their preferences for learning about various food safety risk events along with the reasons for their choices. Overall, Facebook was the most preferred social media outlet to receive food safety risk information mainly because of its ease of use and familiarity, while the FDA had the most popular website because of its trustworthiness. In addition, middle class Americans were more likely to utilize social media networks to research food safety concerns as compared to those in lower and higher income brackets. The investigative results established by this research project will help industry leaders focus their online response efforts during food safety crisis events in order to convey information in the most effective manner.