Scientists at Washington State University (WSU) have uncovered a startling behavior among some of the world’s deadliest bacteria — they’re attracted to human blood, a phenomenon they’re terming “bacterial vampirism.”
A recent study published in the journal eLife led by researchers from WSU reveals that certain bacteria, including some foodborne
Continue Reading WSU researchers expose ‘bacterial vampirism’ in some foodborne pathogens
A new research project is taking a look at the efficacy of sanitizers used in apple processing dump tanks.
During processing, apples are soaked in dump tank and flume water systems. The water is commonly reused over several processing days. According to researchers, there is little data on the potential
Continue Reading Researchers look at sanitizer efficacy in apple packing line dump tanks
Day Three of the International Association for Food Protection 2020, A Virtual Annual Meeting featured a round table discussion, “This Is How We Do It: Challenges and Strategies for Implementing Water Treatment in the Field,” with speakers with expert knowledge in agricultural water treatment. This is a vital topic in
Continue Reading IAFP features round table on the challenges and strategies for implementing water treatment in the field
New research out of Washington State University shows that ultraviolet C light can help kill foodborne pathogens on certain fruits. The light, which cannot penetrate opaque, solid objects, destroys the nucleic acid and disrupts the DNA of microorganisms. It’s been used for years to sanitize food contact surfaces, as well
Continue Reading Research Shows UV Light Can Kill Foodborne Pathogens on Certain Fruits
This Sunday finds me away from my desk, and it occurred to me that this might be a good time to say something nice about our publisher. William D. Marler, managing partner of the well-known food safety law firm of Marler Clark, is the one figure in the
Continue Reading Letter From the Editor: A Shameless Salute to Our Publisher
In 2011, an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Oregon killed one person and sickened more than a dozen people. The outbreak was eventually traced back to organic strawberries grown at an Oregon farm, but how E. coli had managed to contaminate the strawberries remained a mystery for some time
Continue Reading Dung Beetles: Future Heroes of Organic Food Safety?
Washington State University will develop and run a $1 million pilot project to create vegetable gardens at 70 elementary schools in four states, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday.
The People’s Garden School Pilot Program will benefit an estimated 2,800 students attending schools in Washington, New York
Continue Reading School Gardens to Grow Under New USDA Project
In the negative drum roll about animal agriculture’s role in antibiotic resistance, the Washington State Dairy Federation’s commitment to promoting the judicious use of antibiotics offers a bright note of forward progress.
In an antibiotic stewardship project begun in 1999, the federation joined forces with the Pierce County Antibiotic Resistance
Continue Reading Washington Dairies Target Antibiotic Resistance
Pesticides–all the insecticides, weed killers and fertilizers spread on yards and farms–aren’t the only problem contributing to the decline of the wild Pacific salmon.
It’s the people who carelessly (or unknowingly) overuse these chemicals, says Prof. John Stark, an ecotoxicologist at Washington State University who specializes in risk assessment of
Continue Reading Synergistic Toxicity of Pesticides Hurts Salmon
Washington State University researchers say they’ve found that organically grown strawberries are more nutritious, flavorful and have a longer shelf life than conventionally grown strawberries. They also leave soil healthier.
John Reganold, WSU professor of soil science, authored the strawberry study, which was published by the Public Library of Science
