Setting the standard in the fight against food fraud
[Authors: Bridget O'Brien is a 4th year undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science (Microbiology & Immunology), and an Honours student with Dr Ronholm. This paper stems from her NSERC USRA research project with Dr Ronholm in the summer 2020; Dr Jennifer Ronholm is an Assistant Professor in both the Departments of Animal Science and Food Science, whose research focuses on the microbiome of food-producing animals]
In an age of mass food production and distribution, 91ε’s Food Safety and Quality Program has been working toward developing innovative ways to ensure safety in the Canadian and global food supply chain. And with forward-thinking researchers like Dr. Xiaonan Lu at its helm, the program is well on its way to fulfilling that mission.
Lu, the newly appointed Ian and Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety and a leader in the field of food safety and food microbiology, is excited to shift the research he started seven years ago to 91ε’s Macdonald Campus.
Plus de 450 personnes ont officiellement contracté la bactérie salmonelle de souche Newport au Canada cet été, dont 23 au Québec. Selon l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments (ACIA), une personne en est possiblement morte, tandis que 66 personnes ont dû être hospitalisées.
...Qu’est-ce que la salmonellose ?
| Caitlin MacDougall
During the 2020 edition of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual conference, held virtually on July 13-15, two Macdonald Campus Food Science teams representing 91ε competed as finalists in the prestigious 2020 Smart Snacks for Kids Product Development Competition and the 2020 Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Competition.
Jennifer Ronholm, professeure adjointe au Département des sciences animales et au Département des sciences de l’alimentation et de la chimie agricole, nous parle de sécurité au super marché et offre quelques conseils pratiques afin de se protéger du SARS-CoV-2 lorsque vous faites vos courses. Dans le cadre de ses recherches, elle utilise des techniques de séquençage de prochaine génération pour étudier l’effet du microbiome des animaux destinés à la consommation sur la qualité des aliments ainsi que l’effet du microbiome des aliments sur la santé humaine.
With this current pandemic, questions around manufacturing and food safety are becoming a bigger concern for those in the production and distribution chain, as well as consumers. Here are five of the biggest questions pertaining to food safety, and answers that may help. Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry Course Coordinator Eby Noroozi tackles some of the issues.
Science leads the response to COVID-19. These 25 scientists are tackling the other global challenges
The World Economic Forum created the Young Scientists Community in 2008, to engage leaders with science and the role it plays in society. The class of 2020 represents 25 researchers at the forefront of scientific discovery from 14 countries across the world.
While meat packing plants have become virus hot spots, there have been no reported cases from food or food packaging. Experts explain why.
The odds of contracting COVID-19 by eating food processed in a slaughterhouse impacted by outbreaks are “close to zero,” food safety experts say. Food processing plants have been particularly hard hit by outbreaks of COVID-19, with many forced to temporarily shut down as the fast-moving virus spreads among workers. The Cargill plant south of Calgary has taken the toughest blows, with 921 cases of the virus recorded among 2,000 employees.
Can food transmit COVID-19? Should we wear masks and gloves while shopping? Should we wipe down groceries? Cash or credit? These questions and more are answered by 91ε expert.
Jennifer Ronholm is an Assistant Professor cross-appointed to the Departments of Animal Science and Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry. Her research interests include using the latest next-generation sequencing techniques to study how the microbiome of food-producing animals affects food quality, as well as how the microbiome of the food we eat affects human health.
A routine trip to the grocery store can be complicated by a boatload of questions in the age of COVID-19.
The pandemic has left many shoppers wondering whether they need to sanitize their cardboard cereal boxes or plastic yogurt containers before unloading their grocery bags.
But several experts say washing your hands is more important than wiping down every item you put in the fridge.
Congratulations to Eby Noroozi, MSc'78 (Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry) for receiving the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers. The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recognizes living Canadians who have made a significant, sustained and unpaid contribution to their community, in Canada or abroad. Non-Canadians are also eligible if their contribution brings benefit or honour to Canadians or to Canada.
The citation reads:
Congrats to Ebrahim Noroozi, Lab Manager (Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry) who was recognized for his excellence recently by both the Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (Individual Award) and the Iranian Food Science and Technology Association (Food Scientist of the Year-Academic Category).
Concerns they might be contaminated with norovirus, a highly contagious virus that continues that causes gastroenteritis.
Quebec recalled frozen raspberries imported from Chile this week over concerns they might be contaminated with norovirus.
The norovirus is a highly contagious virus that continues to thrive when frozen and causes gastroenteritis, which manifests itself with diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. The symptoms develop between 12 and 24 hours after exposure.
By Laura Webb and Mandy Jian
If you are interested in expanding your professional network and experience in the food industry, please read this post to get more insight in getting involved with the Food Science Association, and/or apply your food science trivia by joining next year’s College Bowl team!