The top ten food safety research projects that excited Food Safety Magazine’s audience the most in 2025 covered Listeria monocytogenes (especially related to biofilms), microplastics, Escherichia coli, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), avian influenza in dairy, microbial threats in irrigation water, and food allergens.
A new USDA study suggests that the “green,” biodegradable enzyme ficin can improve the efficacy of conventional sanitizers when used as a pre-treatment in egg processing environments, reducing the contact time and sanitizer concentration required to achieve Salmonella biofilm inactivation.
This article discusses how an operation should develop, document, implement, and maintain a program to properly manage the many chemicals that are used in food processing.
A laboratory study has provided new insights into the efficacy of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) and chlorine dioxide against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and norovirus in wash water during potato processing, and investigated cross-contamination risks in batch washing and water reuse scenarios.
A recent study sought to better understand the ability of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on stainless steel surfaces to withstand common industry sanitizers, chlorine and PAA, using strains and temperature conditions relevant to the fresh leafy greens supply chain.
A new study assessed the efficacy of a commercial lytic bacteriophage cocktail as a preharvest agricultural water treatment against Salmonella Infantis, and found modest but consistent pathogen reductions across diverse water conditions.
A study from the Arkansas Center for Food Safety demonstrates the importance of application time and product formulation in the effectiveness of hand sanitizers, which is critical for food handlers.
In response to a petition submitted by Cargill, FDA has amended existing regulations to provide for the use of hydrogen peroxide in food production, including meat and poultry, as an antimicrobial agent, oxidizing and reducing agent, and bleaching agent, and to remove sulfur dioxide.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses two scientific advancements related to Listeria monocytogenes control: 1) a study that showed the effectiveness of combining antimicrobial blue light with chemical sanitizers for pathogen inactivation, and 2) the development of a new growth prediction model for L. monocytogenes in artisanal cheeses.
A study from the University of Georgia’s Center for Food Safety suggests a synergistic effect between antimicrobial blue light treatment and low concentrations of sanitizers commonly used in industry, finding enhanced inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes on food contact surfaces.
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