Food Safety News: On the Beat

Welcome to the first episode of Food Safety News: On the Beat, the weekly podcast breaking down the biggest stories in food safety and explaining what happened, what we know and why it matters.

Hosts Morgan Holm, Executive Director and Editor in Chief of Food Safety News, and Jonan Pilet, Newsletter Editor and Social Media Coordinator, discuss some of the most important food safety stories making headlines.

In Episode 1, Morgan and Jonan take a closer look at the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak, including rising case numbers, hospitalizations and the challenges investigators face when trying to identify the source of foodborne illness outbreaks. This pilot episode was recorded Sept. 3, 2026.

They also discuss ongoing Salmonella outbreaks, the difficulty of tracing contaminated food across an increasingly global food supply, and the balance between giving consumers timely information and avoiding conclusions before investigators have enough evidence.

The conversation also covers food recalls, meat inspection and traceability, and an emerging area of food safety research: how artificial intelligence could help improve food traceability, workplace food safety and even food safety practices at home.

In this episode:

• The latest developments in the Cyclospora outbreak

• Salmonella outbreaks and the challenges of tracing their sources

• Why transparency and traceability matter during foodborne illness investigations

• Recent recalls involving mangoes, ranch dip and chicken products

• Food inspection and the changing challenges facing the meat industry

• How AI could help improve food traceability and food safety

Food Safety News has provided independent reporting on foodborne illness outbreaks, recalls, research, regulations and public health since 2009. Food Safety News: On the Beat brings that reporting into a weekly conversation, giving listeners more context behind the stories shaping our food supply.

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