Antibiotic resistance continues to be a problem, that needs to be solved. Antibiotic resistance is when it becomes more difficult to kill bacteria using antibiotics. When foodborne pathogens become antibiotic resistant, the people who contract a foodborne illness may not respond well to treatment....
Dry or low moisture foods do not quickly come to mind when we think about foodborne illnesses and the ways to reduce them. In fact, these foods are not among the top three foods linked to foodborne disease outbreaks in the United...
Soilless food production systems have become attractive as they present many advantages including more efficient use of the limited resources such as water that can be recirculated, growing food vertically in a small space, fewer pests, diseases, and no weeds that need to be managed, and the fact...
Although National Pepper Month is celebrated in November, sweet and hot peppers are coming out of gardens and farmers markets in mid- and late-summer here in Illinois. While the peppers are peak quality, I'll enjoy them fresh as a...
Milk is a perishable food with high nutritional value and moisture content, which makes it conducive for spoilage and harmful microorganisms to thrive in. Pasteurization of milk is one of the key measures taken to protect the public from foodborne illness caused by harmful organisms in milk. During...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines flooding as the flowing or overflowing of a field with water outside a grower’s control. This can result from an overflowing water body such as a river, lake, or a stream. Rainwater that pools in some parts of the field is not considered flooding. ...
Rain, during summer months, is usually a welcome assist when caring for a vegetable garden. But when there is too much of a good thing, a flooded garden can be devastating. Beyond the physical damage to plants and structures, floodwater can introduce biological and chemical contaminants, making...
Electronic devices such as cell phones, smart phones, tablets, computers etc. have become a necessary part of our day-to-day life. We carry them everywhere including places where food is prepared. Reasons for engaging in this practice could be that we use these devices to find and copy recipes,...
Animals of all kinds, whether they are wildlife, domesticated animals, work animals, pets, or pests, are all potential sources of contamination to fresh produce and water sources on the farm. Animals can track their feces containing harmful microorganisms from one place to another so their presence...
