Food Safety Resources

Pathogenic microorganisms

Reviews on emerging and known bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoan pathogens and toxins and diseases associated; BSE, chronic sequelae

Note that most newer Food Safety Reviews require sponsor login.

Mar 2024

Cereulide in Dairy Matrices

Summarizes studies conducted on cereulide in dairy matrices, focusing on the toxin itself or any chemistry of the toxin and with less emphasis on Bacillus cereus growth and toxin production.

Jan 2024

Response to Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service: Enhancing Salmonella Control in Poultry Products

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria in Foods (NACMCF) responds to questions posed by USDA FSIS on enhancing Salmonella control in poultry products.

Aug 2023

Examples of Antimicrobial Hurdles Used to Control Pathogens in Chilled Foods

Mar 2023

Isolation of Extremophiles/Acidophiles/Halophiles

A literature review on the isolation of microorganisms from high salt and/or acidic environments (extremophiles/acidophiles/halophiles).

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Mar 2023

Pathogens associated with extra hard raw milk cheeses

Discusses the pathogens of concern in raw milk extra hard cheese varieties such as Parmesan, Grana Padano, and similar types

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Feb 2023

Microbiological concerns of rice starch

This review by FRI science writer Wendy Bedale discusses the possible microbiological concerns associated with rice starch.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Feb 2023

Dairy spoilage: Organisms, mechanisms, and modeling

A review on spoilage microorganisms, spoilage mechanisms in raw and pasteurized milk, and factors associated with spoilage. Includes a list of microbiological spoilage models, highlighting those which focus on dairy and dairy-based data. By FRI science writer Wendy Bedale.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Oct 2021

Summary of 2021 IAFP Roundtable Discussion on “Opportunities and Challenges: Developments in Clostridium botulinum Challenge Studies"

FRI associate scientist Kristin Schill moderated an IAFP roundtable discussion on “Opportunities and Challenges: Developments in Clostridium botulinum Challenge Studies” at the 2021 IAFP Annual Meeting. The discussion featured international experts from industry, academia, and government discussing the unique challenges that face food companies who need to conduct C. botulinum challenge studies and highlighted progress in the development of new surrogates for the organism.

Sep 2021

Validating a Method to Ensure the Destruction of Salmonella on Product Surfaces During Impingement Cooking

This study investigated the effectiveness of cooking processes that incorporated hydrated surface lethality (HSL) steps for ensuring the reduction of Salmonella on the surfaces of small-dimension meat and poultry products cooked using short-duration, high-temperature impingement oven processes. Published in Meat and Muscle Biology.

Jul 2021

Prevalence and Levels of Pathogens, Coliforms, and Generic E. coli Found in Grains, Flour, and Related Products

Chart compiled by Wendy Bedale, FRI Science Writer

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Apr 2021

Prevalence and Levels of Spore-forming Pathogens in Spices

The purpose of this research is to provide food companies with microbiological profiles of different spices that have been reported previously in the scientific literature. We focused on three key spore-forming bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridium botulinum. This information may be of use to the food industry when they evaluate potential hazards associated with spices used in their products as part of their Food Safety Plans. View the Excel chart here.

Mar 2021

Hydrated surface lethality: Validation of a new processing method to ensure the destruction of Salmonella on product surfaces during impingement cooking

This study investigated the effectiveness of cooking processes that incorporated hydrated-surface lethality steps for ensuring the reduction of Salmonella on the surfaces of meat and poultry products cooked using short-time, high-temperature impingement oven processes.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jul 2018

How to Analyze a Sanger Sequencing Chromatogram

In this video, FRI affiliated faculty member JP van Pijkeren discusses how to analyze a Sanger sequencing chromatogram. It is recommended that you watch the Sanger DNA Sequencing video prior to viewing this one.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jan 2018

North American Meat Institute Database on Antimicrobial Interventions

developed by Wendy Bedale, FRI Science Writer; Kathy Glass, FRI Associate Director and Distinguished Scientist; and Jeff Sindelar, Dept. Animal Sciences, UW-Madison

Dec 2017

Sanger DNA Sequencing

In this video, FRI affiliated faculty member JP van Pijkeren discusses how Sanger DNA sequencing works.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Aug 2017

BLAST: Basic Local Alignment Search Tool

In this video, FRI affiliated faculty member JP van Pijkeren discusses how to use BLAST to find similarities of your sequence (DNA or protein) with sequences in a large database.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jul 2017

Bacterial Enumeration by Spread Plating and Spot Plating Methods

In this video, FRI affiliated faculty member JP van Pijkeren discusses bacterial enumeration by spread plating and spot plating methods.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Nov 2016

Meeting Review: Food Research Institute’s 70th Anniversary and Annual Meeting

by Wendy Bedale, FRI Science Writer; published in Food Protection Trends November/December 2016

Nov 2015

University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Food Research Institute 2015 Annual Meeting Highlights

by Wendy Bedale, FRI Science Writer; published in Food Protection Trends, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 472-474, Nov 2015

Feb 2015

Human Illness Caused by Campylobacter spp. from All Food and Non-Food Vectors

This review summarizes much of the latest information on campylobacteriosis and interventions being used or investigated to reduce contamination of food and water.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jan 2015

Salmonella Fact Sheet

by Wendy Bedale, FRI Science Writer, and Andy Milkowski, Dept. Animal Sciences, UW-Madison; edited by the American Meat Science Association Scientific Information Committee

Sep 2013

Review of Epidemiology of Foodborne Listeriosis

Pathways for introduction of Listeria into different foods and strategies for preventing contamination and growth in foods are reviewed. Recent data from surveillance studies, outbreak investigations, and economic costs are presented.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Aug 2013

Spores of Clostridium botulinum in Dried Dairy Products (FRI Sponsors Science News Alert)

A recent report of presumptive C. botulinum spores in whey protein concentrate (WPC) generated questions about potential risks and strategies for control of spores in dried dairy products. This document was prepared to address Frequently Asked Questions regarding this episode.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Apr 2013

White Paper on Human Illness Caused by Salmonella from all Food and Non-Food Vectors, Update 2013

This update to the February 2009 FRI white paper on Salmonella discusses important food and non-food vehicles for outbreaks of salmonellosis during the past five years, routes of infection, interventions, current surveillance reports, and antimicrobial resistance.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jan 2013

Clostridium difficile as a Risk Associated with Animal Sources

C. difficile, a common cause of diarrhea in healthcare settings, has become more prominent in the community as more virulent strains emerge. This paper reviews data on epidemiology of C. difficile, including the potential for foodborne transmission.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jul 2012

D-Values References

D-values references list prepared to accompany the FRI interactive webinar: Calculating Thermal Inactivation of Pathogens

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Feb 2012

Helicobacter spp. — Food- or Waterborne Pathogens?

Although H. pylori is a known cause of ulcers and gastric cancer, it resides in the gastrointestinal tract of about half the world's population who are usually asymptomatic. Some other Helicobacter species infect mammals, birds and reptiles. Transmission of H. pylori is not well understood because these bacteria enter a viable but nonculturable state when exposed to stressful conditions outside the body.
Appendix: Earlier review on Helicobacter pylori (1997).

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Aug 2011

Toxins from Cyanobacteria

Human exposure to cyanobacterial toxins primarily occurs through ingestion of contaminated water or shellfish, with some additional exposure through dietary supplements, other foods, and aerosols from lakes with cyanobacterial blooms. This review addresses recent information on microcystins, β-methylamino-L-alanine, paralytic shellfish toxins, and anatoxin-a.
Appendix: Earlier review on the alga Pfiesteria (1998).

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Feb 2011

White Paper on Sources of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Other Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci: Implications for Our Food Supply?

Methicillin-resistant staphylococci: infections in animals and humans, presence in food, and potential food safety implications

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jun 2010

White Paper on Effectiveness of Existing Interventions on Virus Inactivation in Meat and Poultry Products

Human enteric viruses and animal viruses potentially present in foods; outbreaks and effective control methods

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Apr 2010

Non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli from meat and non-meat sources

Epidemiology, detection, outbreaks, infection routes, and interventions

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Feb 2009

Human Illness Caused by Salmonella from all Food and Non-Food Vectors

Food and non-food vehicles of infection for human outbreaks of salmonellosis, surveillance strategies, and industry initiatives to control Salmonella spp.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Aug 2007

Destruction of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Meat and Poultry Products

Effects of heat, irradiation, and high pressure on avian influenza viruses present in meat and eggs, sanitation methods for environmental decontamination.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jul 2007

Microbial Food Spoilage and Losses and Control Strategies

Bacteria, yeasts, and molds causing food spoilage, factors affecting shelf-life of meats, dairy products, fish, cereals, vegetables, fruits, and juices.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Oct 2006

Human Illness Caused by E. coli O157:H7 from Food and Non-food Sources

Epidemiology, outbreaks, infection routes, surveillance, regulations, interventions.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Nov 2004

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: update

Update of previous review; prion structure, analytical methods; CWD, BSE, and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
Appendix, earlier BSE briefs: historical review, current issues and strategies for control of transmission spongiform encephalopathies (1996-2002).

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Oct 2003

Foodborne Parasites

Protozoa, Tapeworms, Anisakis, Trichinella, lung and liver flukes, Ascaris.
Appendix: Earlier review on Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora: Protozoan parasites, waterborne outbreaks, contamination of fresh produce (1996).

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Mar 2002

Survival and Growth of Clostridium perfringens during the Cooling Step of Thermal Processing of Meat Products

Heat resistance in uncured and cured meats; Efficiency of different cooling processes; Growth inhibitors.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Oct 2001

Virulence Characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes

Strain variation; Invasion and Spread; Host Defenses; Virulence factors.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Nov 1999

Various Techniques Used in Listeria Intervention

RTE products; organic acids, bacteriocins, thermal processes, irradiation, modified atmosphere packaging, high pressure, UV light, Ultrasound.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Nov 1998

Non-Cholera Vibrios

Vibrio vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus; shellfish; wound infections.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jul 1998

Campylobacter - Chronic Effects

Food vectors; Guillain-Barre syndrome.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Dec 1997

Fusarium Mycotoxins

Pre- and post-harvest approaches to control DON and fumonisins.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Apr 1997

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis — Another Emerging Pathogen of the Human Gastrointestinal Tract?

Presence in milk; possible link to Crohn's disease.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Jan 1997

Emergence of a Highly Virulent Strain of Salmonella typhimurium

Multiple antibiotic resistance.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief

Aug 1996

Helicobacter pylori

Gastritis, ulcers.

import_contacts Food Safety Brief