Quick bites from around the food safety arena this week
Infant formula maker ByHeart has “discontinued” manufacturing its products after getting caught up in an outbreak of infant botulism. ByHeart’s founders started a new company, MeridianMade, earlier this year and announced in late October that it would purchase Dublin-based Perrigo’s infant formula business. Perrigo’s products are sold under retailers’ own labels, known as store brands. Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro raised concerns this week about the transaction and vowed continued investigation of the infant botulism outbreak, which sickened 48 babies across 17 states.An unlabeled container of granular degreasing chemical ended up being used at a Chili’s Bar & Grill margarita station in North Carolina. Three customers and two employees reported chemical burns in and around their mouths after drinking beverages with the chemical on the rims of margarita glasses. A local public health official said, “This incident highlights the importance of proper chemical labeling, storage, and handling in food service establishments. . .to prevent chemical contamination and protect public health.”The CDC and FDA have declared an end to one Salmonella outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts and microgreens. A contaminated seed lot imported from New Zealand resulted in at least 34 cases of Salmonella infection in six states. Evergreen Fresh Sprouts recalled the contaminated sprouts and other companies recalled sprouting seeds. The federal agencies did not name the seed supplier.The United Kingdom’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigated two outbreaks connected with raw milk during the second quarter of 2026. One outbreak involved Cryptosporidium while Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was behind the other. Neither APHA nor the UK Health Security Agency have revealed how many people were affected.Civil Eats provides a good overview of the initial impacts of the midterm elections on food and farm policy. New Democratic majorities in the House and Senate next year will change the key players and agenda on a number of policies, while newly-elected Democratic governors like Deb Haaland, NM, and Hannah Pingree, ME, are likely to play a role in shaping food-related policies at the state level.
Today’s Topic: Expired Farm Bill 2.0
Farm Bill 2.0 expired on Oct. 1, 2026.
Many in the lobbying and consulting communities believe the chances of resurrecting Farm Bill 2.0 in the lame duck session of Congress are slim to none. But top lobbyist Randy Russell of the Russell Group is more hopeful.
He predicts a reworked Farm Bill 2.0 will pass out of the Senate agriculture committee, staff will work out differences, and it will reach the floor as a “must-pass” omnibus spending measure. He put the odds at 50 percent.
The Farm Bill is a package of laws and amendments that authorize, reauthorize, or update various food, agriculture, and rural policies. For almost a century, Congress has passed farm bills every five years, holding the reins on agriculture and food policies and programs.
