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
Selection and Characterization of DNA Aptamers With Binding Selectivity to Campylobacter jejuni Using Whole-Cell SELEX
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2010
The Tricks Learnt by Human Enteric Pathogens From Phytopathogens to Persist within the Plant Environment
Current Opinions in Biotechnology, 2010
Through recent advances in our understanding of microbial/plant interactions it is becoming apparent that human pathogens, principally, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella are adapted to survive in the plant environment. The aforementioned pathogens have surface epitopes that can bind to plant structures such as stomata to aid attachment. This work was published in Current Opinions in Biotechnology (2010;21:131-136).
Persistence of Human Noroviruses on Food Preparation Surfaces and Human Hands
Food Environmental Virology, 2009
This study, published in Food and Environmental Virology (2009;1:141–147), examines the persistence of representative human noroviruses on the fingertips of volunteers and on commonly used food preparation surfaces.
Read more about Persistence of Human Noroviruses on Food Preparation Surfaces and Human Hands
Critical Research Needs in Food Safety Microbiology
Food Protection Trends, 2009
As discussed in this review published in the December issue of Food Protection Trends, control, detection, and mitigation were identified as three critically important research areas by the IAFNS Committee on Food Microbiology for looking at spore-forming bacterial pathogens, spoilage organisms, and Salmonella.
Read more about Critical Research Needs in Food Safety Microbiology
Microbial Population Profiles of the Microflora Associated With Pre- and Postharvest Tomatoes Contaminated with Salmonella typhimurium or Salmonella montevideo
Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2009
This article, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology (2009;107:329–338), helps to determine the microflora profiles of pre- and postharvest tomatoes contaminated with Salmonella montevideo or S. typhimurium DT104.
Events
IAFP 2020 Annual Meeting
October 26, 2020 – October 28, 2020
Virtual, USA
Each year, the International Association for Food Protection hosts an Annual Meeting, providing attendees with information on current and emerging food safety issues, the latest science, innovative solutions to new and recurring problems, and the opportunity to network with thousands of food safety professionals from around the globe. IAFNS is supporting four sessions at the 2020 IAFP Annual Meeting.