Chicken Snacks Labeling
September 2026
Food Edge Solutions reviewed formulations, nutrition information, claims, and labels for a company extending their chicken snacks product line in the US market. We provided assistance with product formulation and nutrition, labeling and claims guidance, and recommendations to help them comply with labeling regulations. It's exciting to help clients develop great tasting new products for our backyards friends.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about how we can help you launch your new products.
Pomegranate Pomace Allowed in Dog Foods
August 2026
AAFCO Official Definition
After receiving a positive opinion from FDA CVM in August 2025, the AAFCO membership voted to approve pomegranate pomace as an official ingredient for dog foods at the 2026 Annual Meeting .
Official Definition T40.114
Pomegranate pomace is the residue from the normal processing of pomegranates for human consumption. This residue shall be suitable for animal food usage and may contain the skin, peel, seed, and pulp of the fruit. It must contain not less than 40% total dietary fiber (dry-matter basis) and be dried to contain no more than 10% moisture. It is for use in dog food as a source of dietary fiber consistent with good feeding practices.
Our experts developed the safety testing methods, coordinated dog food nutrient profile and production, and authored the scientific dossier for a successful regulatory petition for pomegranate pomace.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about how we can help you launch your new ingredients.
Xylooligosaccharides GRAS Notification
August 2026
AAFCO Official Definition
Xylooligosaccharides are officially included in Section 101 GRAS, Table 101.1 of the AAFCO Official Publication (OP) following receipt of a GRAS No Questions Letter from FDA CVM in July 2025. Xylooligosaccharides are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in poultry, swine, and fish feeds at up to 1% of the diets.
Our experts collaborated with Rayonier Advanced Materials during the xylooligosaccharides development process, developed the scientific dossier strategy, and guided discussion with FDA CVM for a successful regulatory petition.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about how we can help you launch your new ingredients.
Food Defense Qualified Individual Essentials Training
July 2026
We are pleased to announce 16 new food defense qualified individuals (FDQIs) at frozen potato product manufacturer. The new FDQIs received training to perform all 4 roles that require FDQIs under the 21 CFR 121 – Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration.
Want to learn more about our training programs?
Food Defense Lead Instructor Training
June 2026
Food Edge Solutions founder Jennifer van de Ligt served as the lead Trainer of Trainers (ToT) for the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessment (IAVA) Lead Instructor Training. The training prepared new lead instructors on 4 continents to offer the IAVA course. The IAVA course teaches the fundamental element and hybrid methods for vulnerability assessment that is required under the 21 CFR 121 – Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration.
Many thanks to my co-instructors, Jon Woody and Ned Mitenius, and to the technical team at IFPTI for another successful training.
Toxicology Publication
June 2026
Food Edge Solutions founder Jennifer van de Ligt co-authored a study evaluating human fecal metabolism of siamenoside I. The publication established that purified siamenoside I produced by fermentation showed essentially complete deglycosylation to mogrol, the cucurbitane backbone of mogrosides, within 8 hours which was similar to siamenoside I in monk fruit extract. The study also confirmed that mogrosides are deglycosylated in the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Read the paper in International Journal of Toxicology at https://doi.org/10.1177/10915818261459443.
Winter Camelina Meal Safety in Animal Feed
May 2026
Food Edge Solutions conducted a literature review to assess feeding of winter camelina meal to beef and dairy cattle, swine, and poultry. The goal of the review was understand the safety and efficacy of solvent-extracted camelina meal with low residual oil levels. The review also identified knowledge gaps and potential research needs for future regulatory submissions.
A summary of the safety and efficacy evaluation was included in the MBOLD Protein Catalyst Winter Camelina: Opportunities and Challenges for Use as an Animal Feed Ingredient published in May 2026.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about our safety and efficacy literature reviews.
Canadian Coffee Labeling
April 2026
Food Edge Solutions reviewed new labels for a coffee company extending distribution into the Canadian market and provided labeling guidance and recommendations to help them comply with labeling regulations. We guided their understanding of the mandatory labeling elements and helped them navigate the dual language requirements in limited label space. It's exciting to help clients enter new geographies with great tasting products.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about how we can help you launch your new ingredients.
Health Risk Assessment
March 2026
Food Edge Solutions conducted a health risk assessment for a pet food producer. The producer identified a nutritional mistake in their cat food and needed to understand any potential health risks from the error.
Food Edge Solutions evaluated the cat food recipe, analytical results for key nutrients, and scientific literature relevant to the nutrient profile of the cat food. The assessment established that there were negligible health risks for cats if they consumed the cat food for months longer than the recipe was produced.
Food Edge Solutions also assisted with root cause analysis and found that the cat food recipe was the root cause of the nutritional mistake. A supplier change for a key ingredient resulted in an inaccurate nutrient profile in the recipe. Recommendations for formulation constraints on key ingredients were provided to help prevent similar mistakes from occurring in the future.
Contact us to learn more about our health risk assessment services and they can help you manage your tough issues.
Pick your poison: The enduring threat of biological toxins
February 2026
Food Edge Solutions founder Jennifer van de Ligt was invited to speak to the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council about the threats of toxins to the food and agriculture critical infrastructure. She talked about the risks of intentional adulteration of food to cause wide scale human health harm and the national security risks of off-shore supply chains critical food ingredients.
Watch the testimony starting at 3:24:45 and contact me if you'd like to learn more.
Toxicology Publication
January 2026
Food Edge Solutions founder Jennifer van de Ligt co-authored a study evaluating the metabolism of siamenoside I. The new publication established that, following oral intake, about 40% of siamenoside I was absorbed as mogrol, the cucurbitane backbone of mogrosides. The mogrol and its metabolites were rapidly excreted in the urine and bile with no evidence of accumulation or retention observed in any tissue.
Read the paper in Toxicology Reports at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.102185.
Food Defense Awareness Training
December 2025
Food Edge Solutions delivered Food Defense Awareness training to about 400 employees at a major infant formula manufacturer. The training was delivered in-person with an interactive format to facilitate engagement and discussion of the content. Training was provided to leadership, quality, production, processing, maintenance, and sanitation teams across all shifts.
Food Defense Awareness training is required Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration regulation (IA Rule; 21 CFR 121) for employees, and their supervisors, at actionable process steps. This facility chose to train above and beyond that minimum requirement so that all employees understand the concepts of food defense and its importance in their facility.
Learn more about Food Defense Awareness Training.
Food Defense Qualified Individual Essentials Training
November 2025
We are pleased to announce 14 new food defense qualified individuals (FDQIs) at frozen potato product manufacturer. The new FDQIs received training to perform all 4 roles that require FDQIs under the 21 CFR 121 – Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration.
Want to learn more about our training programs?
Toxicology Publication
October 2025
Food Edge Solutions founder Jennifer van de Ligt co-authored a study evaluating the genotoxicity of kaurenoic acid. The new publication established that kaurenoic acid demonstrates no evidence of mutagenicity, clastogenicity, or aneugenicity when tested with current OECD guidelines. The study addressed 40 years of inconsistent conclusions and criticism from regulatory bodies that resulted from testing that lacked alignment with internationally accepted guidelines.
Read the paper in Toxicology Reports at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.102144.
Food Defense Mock Inspection
September 2025
Food Edge Solutions conducted food defense mock inspections at a major infant formula manufacturer to determine inspection readiness for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration regulation (IA Rule; 21 CFR 121). Opportunities were identified to improve the efficiency of their food defense plan including enhanced vulnerability assessment and mitigation strategy identification. As part of the mock inspection, we are pleased to announce 16 new food defense qualified individuals (FDQIs) for all 4 roles required by the IA Rule.
Contact us to learn more about our mock inspection process and how it can help your inspection readiness.
