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In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we talk with Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D., D.V.M., the Gellert Family Professor in Food Safety and Food Science at Cornell University, about his research on Listeria and Salmonella, his work to strengthen foodborne illness surveillance and response, his use of whole genome sequencing (WGS), and other topics.

bioMérieux’s new GENE-UP® ENVIROPRO™ detects both Salmonella and Listeria from environmental swabbing, including PCR confirmation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is planning to hold a workshop for government officials from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to learn about whole genome sequencing (WGS). Individuals interested in participating are invited to apply.

In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Trevor Craig, Corporate Director of Technical Training and Consulting at Microbac Laboratories, about the dates on consumer food packaging, their impacts on shelf life and food safety and quality (FSQ), and the role Microbac can play in helping industry manage FSQ risks.
 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) with optical imaging may be a promising solution for detecting pathogens in foods, and would save the food industry time and resources, according to a recent study.

More than 200 food safety experts across 14 countries in Asia and the Pacific have been trained in the use of the use of nuclear techniques to test for microbial and chemical hazards, through a project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) will host a virtual open house featuring live demonstrations and presentations on Salmonella sampling and quantification, whole genome sequencing, agency technology, and the National Residue Program.

Scientists have developed a rapid detection method for microbial contaminants in food that can identify the presence of certain pathogens by color in as little as one hour.

Researchers at the University of Georgia are developing a biosensor-based rapid diagnostic test for Listeria monocytogenes in food.

There are no set microbiological performance standards for food products, yet demonstrating that hazards are sufficiently controlled is a key component of FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act. For some products, such as canned goods, these standards have been set over many decades of scientific testing. For others, these performance standards have yet to be established, particularly for new, unique ingredients with minimal processing steps. This article explores the history of performance standards and provides guidance on how to establish such standards where currently lacking.