The Committee on Food Microbiology is committed to proactively improving the understanding and control of microbial food safety hazards to enable scientifically informed decision making.
The Food Microbiology Committee achieves its mission through supporting sound science, and fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry.
How are research priorities identified?
In advance of setting priorities for each new research cycle, the committee and its scientific advisors hold a research roundtable with representatives from federal and international agencies. These include: the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Nutrition (CFSAN) and Office of Food and Veterinary Medicine; the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA); the European Food Safety Authority and; Health Canada. The objective of these roundtable discussions is to identify emerging food microbiology research needs considered critical to public health.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Conagra Brands
Deibel Labs
General Mills, Inc.
Kraft Heinz Company
Mondelēz International
National Dairy Council
ACADEMIC ADVISORS
Kathleen Glass, PhD, University of Wisconsin
Abby Snyder, PhD, Cornell University
GOVERNMENT LIAISONS
Kristina Barlow, MS, US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service
Heather Carleton, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Julie Kase, PhD, US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Jodi Williams, PhD, US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Reference Strain Collection
Established in 2001 for Listeria monocytogenes isolates and housed at Cornell University, the Reference Strain Collection was expanded in 2006 to include the strain set and subtyping data that emerged from the committee’s Cronobacter (formerly Enterobacter) sakazakii projects. A 2008 expansion included the strains set of Salmonella resulting from the committee's Salmonella low-moisture projects. Isolates from the collection are available for a minimal charge to investigators around the world. This unique resource provides investigators with a standard set of isolates that improves comparison of research data. The Food Microbiology Committee continues to support the expansion of the strain collection.
Projects Supported by the Committee:
Publications
International Life Science Institute North America Cronobacter (Formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) Isolate Set
Journal of Food Protection, 2013
Modeling the Influence of Temperature, Water Activity and Water Mobility on the Persistence of Salmonella in Low-Moisture Foods
International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2013
This article, published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, aimed to determine how the physical state of water in low-moisture foods influences the survival of Salmonella and to use this information to develop mathematical models that predict the behavior of Salmonella in these foods.
Persistence and Transferability of Noroviruses on and between Common Surfaces and Foods
Journal of Food Protection, 2012
The purpose of this study was to characterize the persistence and transferability of representative noroviruses Norwalk virus (NV), Snow Mountain virus (SMV), and murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) on and between solid surfaces and foods.
The Effect of X-Ray on Salmonella Inactivation and Sensory Quality of Almonds and Walnuts as a Function of Water Activity
International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2011
The overall goal of this study was to develop a set of process design principles for low-energy X-ray irradiation of tree nuts.
Comparison of Virulence of Three Strains of Cronobacter sakazakii in Neonatal CD-1 Mice
Journal of Food Protection, 2010
The study objective was to compare the virulence of three strains of C. sakazakii in neonatal CD-1 mice.
Events
IAFNS Food Microbiology Committee Meeting
March 28, 2024
Washington, DC
The Food Microbiology Committee will convene its Spring 2024 Committee Meeting on March 28, 2024.