Food safety rules for dry foods get more time for public comment

US health regulators are extending the deadline for public comments on new food safety guidelines. These guidelines cover how companies should clean facilities that make dry, ready-to-eat foods and what to do if contamination happens.

These rules will define how food companies prevent contamination in products like cereals, spices, and protein powders. The guidelines aim to reduce outbreaks from pathogens like Salmonella, which can survive for long periods in low-moisture foods. More time for comments means the final rules will likely be more robust, but also that their implementation will be delayed.