Researchers from Purdue
University have developed a new biosensor-based rapid test that can detect fecal contamination of produce in-field with 90–100 percent accuracy.
A newly developed biosensor measuring hypoxanthine, a compound that is produced during the process of decomposition, is able to accurately and efficiently determine the freshness of meat.
Innovative packaging technologies that contribute to food safety include, but are not limited to, antimicrobial packaging, controlled-release packaging, nanotechnology, and biosensors. These technologies can aid in the control of not only spoilage microorganisms, which make the food product undesirable (but not necessarily unsafe), but also pathogenic organisms, which can cause illness and even death in humans. In the current economy, it may be difficult to make the decision to transition from a traditional packaging solution to an alternative; however, when product food safety is jeopardized and consumers are at potential risk, the food industry must do everything it can to prevent adverse scenarios.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently highlighted various fellowship projects across Europe, providing insight into the recent and ongoing work of EFSA in the realm of food safety risk assessment for various chemical and microbiological hazards.
A Michigan State University-led research team has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a rapid biosensor test for foodborne pathogens, with a focus on Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry.
