Dr. Alejandro Castillo is looking closely at Listeria contamination in the Mexican–U.S. avocado supply chain. Dr. Matt Taylor is working to help meat and poultry producers validate the microbial safety of their products and ensure regulatory compliance.
With the hope of developing a user-friendly model, a Center for Produce Safety-funded study is investigating factors that influence Escherichia coli contamination risks posed by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) near produce growing fields.
Following a global recall of infant formula products due to cereulide toxin contamination, EU officials are taking steps to prevent illnesses from cereulide-tainted formula in the future. Cases of mild illness associated with recalled product have been reported in Europe.
The scientific opinion was published to provide a scientific basis for possible amendments to existing requirements in EU legislation for food business operators on the freezing of meat.
New research has demonstrated that certain plant-based compounds (i.e., curcumin, berberine, quercetin, and capsaicin) can enhance the antimicrobial effect of blue light treatment against Listeria monocytogenes on food and disrupt its biofilm-forming abilities.
Researchers estimate that the use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for routine pathogen surveillance in Australia prevents up to 10,900 foodborne salmonellosis cases and delivers as much as $17 million in cost savings annually.
Nofima recently reported on a successful “Seek and Destroy” process carried out by a smoked salmon producer implicated in a listeriosis outbreak, which demonstrated the importance of hygienic design and WGS, and the limitations of standard cleaning and sampling.
Automating the full pathogen detection workflow into a single device, the test can be operated with the press of a button and is designed for onsite use by non-specialists.
USDA-FSIS has reissued its guidance on testing for Listeria species other than Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) food production facilities to reflect expansions made to the agency’s testing method and enforcement actions.