A recent study examined the efficacy of three commonly used sanitizers—chlorine, QACs, and UV-C light—against Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on stainless steel, PET, and silicone rubber surfaces, including organic matter, representing produce packing environments.
CalRecycle has issued a final draft of the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54), which establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to manage packaging and single-use plastic. Western Growers shared concerns about the produce industry’s ability to qualify for categorical exclusion.
The researchers found that advanced, multi-step disinfection treatment significantly reduces the antibiotic resistance (AMR)-related food safety risks of wastewater reused for irrigation, while biological treated water remains a potential source of resistant bacteria contamination.
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.
As in years past, USDA’s Pesticide Data Program reports that more than 99 percent of foods sampled in 2024 were compliant with EPA pesticide residue limits. Some persistent organic pollutants, like DDT, continue to show up in crops.
Two research projects are investigating several novel techniques for detecting hepatitis A virus that eliminate false positives produced by inactivated, non-infectious RNA fragments—an issue that limits the usefulness of existing methods for indicating actual food safety risk.
In a retrospective analysis of two Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks linked to packaged salads, CDC epidemiologists underline key learnings and suggest proactive measures for industry.
Researchers with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have demonstrated that the use of iron-fortified hemp biochar made from agricultural waste can significantly reduce the amount of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” taken up by food crops grown in contaminated soil.
The new COMPASS optical sorter from Key Technology combines high-performance foreign material contamination detection and removal with gentle, hygienic product handling to help processors enhance food safety and operational efficiency.
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