The latest technology in foodborne pathogen detection involves a combination of bacteriophages and bioilluminating enzymes. Boston-based company Sample6 claims that its Bioillumination Platform is faster and more accurate than other assays used by the food industry to detect contamination before produce reaches store shelves. When co-founder Tim Lu was a graduate student, his research focused on bacteriophages – viruses that target bacteria. Sample6 has since engineered its assay to find and inject Listeria with an enzyme that reprograms the bacteria to shine very brightly. To use the Bioillumination Platform, workers swab the food and then use a machine to detect any light emitted from the sample. Another helpful component of the system is the ability to input results from the tests into a company’s system to better track contamination and correlating factors. The assay is currently undergoing certification, but several Sample6 clients have been using it in trials for the past six months. The company markets the test as “the world’s first enrichment-free pathogen diagnostic system,” meaning that it doesn’t require cell culture and can detect a single cell in just a few hours. Although the test is only currently available for Listeria detection, Lu told MIT News that the platform technology could be used to detect other pathogens or in other industries such as health care.
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Scientists have called for toxoplasmosis to be listed as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Toxoplasma parasite can cause ocular toxoplasmosis, an eye infection that
An analysis of Listeria in Switzerland covering six years has revealed several outbreaks and sporadic cases connected to international incidents.
Researchers collected 335 Listeria monocytogenes isolates from cases of listeriosis
Scientists have been unable to pinpoint the route of contamination in a hepatitis A outbreak traced to blueberries.
Twenty-four patients in the Netherlands became ill from November 2024 to
The cost of food fraud in the United Kingdom could be as much as £2 billion ($2.7 billion) per year, according to researchers.
Research from the University of Portsmouth
CDC lists the investigation status as open and FDA lists it as ongoing. Case counts and recall lists in this report reflect the federal record as of Aug. 20, 2026.
Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc. is recalling select flavors of Outshine Fruit Bars because of consumer complaints about contamination with glass.
Products affected include Outshine Strawberry, Watermelon, Grape, Tangerine
Salata Dressings of Houston, TX, is recalling its Jalapeno Avocado Dressing because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The recalled products were distributed in Texas HEB grocery
Grand Central Bakery of Seattle, WA, is recalling loaves of Potato Sourdough because they may contain the presence of pieces of metal.
The following products are subject to recall and
