Microbiological

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The FAO/WHO Joint Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) has published a report ranking the most important foodborne viruses and virus-food commodity pairings.

To assist interpretation of test results generated by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) microbiology laboratories, UKHSA has published new guidelines for assessing the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods placed on the market.

Following the high-profile, fatal listeriosis outbreak linked to Boar’s Head ready-to-eat (RTE) deli meats that prompted an internal review of USDA-FSIS processes, the agency has announced several new steps to strengthen its oversight of RTE facilities, including expanded Listeria rule requirements and stricter state-federal cooperative inspection agreements.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched its five-part National Milk Testing Strategy to monitor and address Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) in milk and dairy herds. A new Federal Order and accompanying guidance has been issued. 

Recently concluded research funded by the Center for Produce Safety provides practical, immediately actionable insights that industry can integrate into their operations, ranging from sanitation best practices, to Salmonella and E. coli mitigation, to wild bird management, and more.

AOAC International has announced that the Scope of Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17043 for the Proficiency Testing program has been expanded to include its cannabis and hemp oil programs.

With funding from the Center for Produce Safety (CPS), a team of researchers are developing a rapid viability test for the challenging parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded grants to two Florida State University (FSU) professors for projects focused on food safety innovation—specifically, on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to mitigate foodborne antimicrobial resistance, and for the development of a new Salmonella assay.

Between 2017 and 2019, Canadian public health laboratories transitioned to whole genome sequencing (WGS) for foodborne illness outbreak surveillance. A recent study shows the positive impact of this transition of national outbreak detection and response for important foodborne pathogens. 

Pathotrak has appointed Frank Yiannas, former Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to its Board of Directors.