The 31st meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was held from June 30 to July 4 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Codex, an organization formed by the World Health Organization and the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Commission, sets food standards designed to be used as references for countries in creating their own guidelines. Thirty standards were adopted at the meeting. A standard for the maximum limit of the bacteria Enterobacter sakazakii in powdered baby formula was adopted, as well as related guidelines for production and handling. Also adopted were a new standard defining tomatoes, guidelines for the presence of low levels of unapproved genetically modified organisms in grains, and, in part, a standard for practices related to fish and fishery products. A new definition for gluten-free food that defines the level of gluten as not exceeding 20 mg per kg was adopted. Also, new standards for aflatoxins, bitter cassava and flavorings were set. The next Codex meeting will take place June 29–July 4, 2009, in Rome, Italy. Source: FreshPlaza