Cookson Beecher

Award-winning journalist with 10+ years covering food science for Food Safety News. Cookson previously worked as an agriculture and environment reporter for Capital Press. She holds a degree in Political Science from Hunter College.

Does artificial intelligence open up promises for food safety?

If self-driving cars can identify objects like other cars or traffic lights, why not use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify harmful bacteria in food. Turns out that this is not

By Cookson Beecher

/ 16 Oct 2023

Does artificial intelligence open up promises for food safety?

What about hybrid meat? Food safety questions arise

All meat? Or no meat? Or what about something in between? That would be “hybrid meat.” What in the world is that? In this case, it would be made by

By Cookson Beecher

/ 19 Sep 2023

What about hybrid meat? Food safety questions arise

Don’t get bitten by ‘traveler’s bug’

A young hardworking couple, they were more than ready to take a vacation . . . especially after all the stress that COVID had put on their lives. Overseas travel beckoned. They weren’

By Cookson Beecher

/ 14 Aug 2023

Commonsense tips for dealing with a foodborne illness

When a hardworking, but exhausted, New York City realtor spied a festive-looking plastic tray of cut-up fruit in a store’s deli section, she reached out, picked it up, and

By Cookson Beecher

/ 7 Aug 2023

Commonsense tips for dealing with a foodborne illness

Food safety scores a win in recent water settlements

Food safety and clean water always make for a good marriage. That can be seen in a recent legal settlement involving two large dairies in Eastern Washington that were accused

By Cookson Beecher

/ 3 Jul 2023

Food safety scores a win in recent water settlements

Food safety an important part of USDA’s approval of lab-grown chicken products

“A taste of the future.” That’s how cardiologist Uma Valeti, MD, CEO and founder of UPSIDE Foods (https://upsidefoods.com) describes the upshot of USDA’s approval this week

By Cookson Beecher

/ 26 Jun 2023

Food safety an important part of USDA’s approval of lab-grown chicken products

New World ag on its way: FDA gives initial thumbs up to pork from gene-edited pigs

As the popular children’s poem goes: “This little piggy went to market.” Now that the Food and Drug Administration has authorized letting gene-edited pigs enter the human food chain,

By Cookson Beecher

/ 22 May 2023

New World ag on its way: FDA gives initial thumbs up to pork from gene-edited pigs

Timely tips for urban gardeners concerned about lead safety

For Paula Gordon the question of why she has a garden smack dab in the middle of town, the answer is easy. “I like growing things,” she says, as she

By Cookson Beecher

/ 10 Apr 2023

Timely tips for urban gardeners concerned about lead safety

Biden sees future in ag biotech; food safety included

President Joe Biden is looking in another direction to steer agriculture’s boat. The key word here is biotechnology. And President Biden is all for it. In fact, he goes

By Cookson Beecher

/ 2 Apr 2023

Biden sees future in ag biotech; food safety included

Startup company offers vegan tuna in a can; some say it boosts food safety

Fish-free tuna in a can. How can that be? Turns out that an Israeli company, Vgarden Ltd. has developed what it calls a “game-changing’ vegan tinned tuna.” “Game-changing” in more

By Cookson Beecher

/ 14 Mar 2023

Startup company offers vegan tuna in a can; some say it boosts food safety

Dark chocolate and red dye can be a problem in some Valentine’s Day treats

With Valentine’s Day on its way, thoughts are turning to love . . . and chocolate. For many, dark chocolate is the chocolate of choice, and those who prefer dark chocolate will

By Cookson Beecher

/ 11 Feb 2023

Dark chocolate and red dye can be a problem in some Valentine’s Day treats

Tribes caught in food safety dilemma

Eat fish; it’s healthy. Except when it isn’t. That’s the quandary that many Pacific Northwest and Columbia River Basin tribal members face as they try to balance

By Cookson Beecher

/ 30 Jan 2023

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Cookson Beecher

Does artificial intelligence open up promises for food safety?

What about hybrid meat? Food safety questions arise

Don’t get bitten by ‘traveler’s bug’

Commonsense tips for dealing with a foodborne illness

Food safety an important part of USDA’s approval of lab-grown chicken products

New World ag on its way: FDA gives initial thumbs up to pork from gene-edited pigs

Timely tips for urban gardeners concerned about lead safety

Biden sees future in ag biotech; food safety included

Startup company offers vegan tuna in a can; some say it boosts food safety

Dark chocolate and red dye can be a problem in some Valentine’s Day treats

Tribes caught in food safety dilemma