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Food Safety

What could be more personal than the food you eat? The issue of food safety is as close as your next meal. Yet it covers such widespread challenges as food recalls and imports, the state's booming food processing industry, organic growers and school lunch programs.

The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences stands guard to protect Georgia citizens with food safety research, education and information. Here is just a sample of the many ways CAES looks at this issue and acts to keep food safe.

Impact Statements

Review these reports on food safety issues from CAES faculty in research, teaching and Extension. For more reports, visit the searchable database.

2009 Reports

2008 Reports

2007 Reports

2006 Reports

Georgia FACES Articles

Here's just a sample of food safety issues in the news generated by the college. For the latest news, visit Georgia FACES.

Unpasteurized milk poses serious health risks
April 23, 2009 — Unpasteurized milk from cows, sheep or goats can carry dangerous bacteria that infect humans. People have contracted salmonella, E. coli, listeria and even rabies from consuming raw milk. It's a risk people shouldn't take, says a University of Georgia food specialist.
Antimicrobial wash is better than chlorine
April 14, 2009 — A new technology that kills pathogens on food at home and in restaurants, grocery stores, beverage-manufacturing and food-processing facilities has been licensed to the maker of FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash™. The licensing agreement between the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. and HealthPro Brands, Inc., FIT’s parent company, vastly extends the range of applications for the company’s current anti-microbial food wash.
Salmonella: Tough to crack in peanuts
February 12, 2009 — For the second time in two years, a nationwide outbreak of salmonellosis has been tied to peanut products. This time, more than 570 people have been sickened and more than 1,700 products have been taken off supermarket shelves so far, in what is now the largest food-related recall in the country's history.
Salmonella recalls: Don't be afraid, be informed
February 6, 2009 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration advise consumers not to eat peanut products made with peanut butter or peanut paste made at the Peanut Corporation of America facility in Blakely, Ga. More than 1,300 products ranging from cookies and ice cream to trail mix and pet food have been recalled due to a nation-wide salmonella outbreak connected to the facility.
Recall adds to peanut stockpile
January 22, 2009 — In connection with a salmonella investigation, the Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers against eating processed foods made with peanut butter. The country already had a large surplus of peanuts. With any decline in consumption now, that stockpile will grow, says a University of Georgia peanut expert.
Childhood food allergies a serious concern
October 30, 2008 — Teresa Haire reads the labels on all the food she feeds her two-year-old son, Brandon. If she doesn't, it could be serious. He's allergic to eggs and peanuts.
UGA report: Food, fiber big players in Georgia's economy
August 7, 2008 —When the numbers are totaled, food and fiber production are the dominate drivers of Georgia’s economic engine, according to a report by the University of Georgia.
Preserving food at home can be rewarding, costly
July 23, 2008 — Many Americans are trying to beat rising food prices by growing and preserving food at home. Food preservation may save money for some, but not for everyone, says a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension food preservation expert.
UGA wash kills foodborne pathogens in minutes
June 25, 2008 — University of Georgia researchers have developed an effective technology for reducing contamination of dangerous bacteria on food.
UGA students learn to protect U.S. food supply
April 29, 2008 — Dead pigeons don't usually attract much attention. But a few hundred of them infected with avian influenza and mysteriously found in several U.S. cities would cause, at the least, a media storm.
Mundane studies keep safe, high-quality food on Georgia tables
March 13, 2008 — You may not find research in fruit and vegetable diseases to be intriguing, but if you no longer had high-quality fresh food on your plate, you might change your mind. If federal earmark funding is taken off the table for America's land-grant universities, the safety of our abundant food supply will suffer.
Dangerous imports
February 28, 2008 — In 2004, for the first time ever, the United States imported more food than it exported. If this trend continues, a University of Georgia expert predicts cases of foodborne illness will rise in the U.S.
Help children prevent, conquer illnesses in school
August 23, 2007 — Whether a child's been back at school three weeks, three days or three hours, germs are multiplying. And with the added stress of a new school year, children are more likely to get sick.
Canned food recall reveals broad use of co-packing
August 16, 2007 — Not every food brand has its own canning and packing facility. Neither does every supermarket or grocery brand. This was clear in two recent canned-food recalls for Castleberry's and Lakeside Foods.
Imported foods cause for concern
August 9, 2007 — A University of Georgia expert says the challenges in ensuring a safe U.S. food supply will continue to grow to unprecedented heights unless solutions are provided quickly.
What's good about pre-packaged lunches? Not much
July 11, 2007 — Prepackaged lunches are just so convenient and so appealing to kids. But are they nutritious? Are they a good buy? For that matter, are they really easy for your child to take to school? No, no and no, says a University of Georgia nutritionist.
New UGA program focuses on food supply safety
May 17, 2007 — For generations, Americans have had the luxury of giving very little thought to the safety of their food supply. They could eat in peace. Now, it will likely take an educated work force to keep it that way. The University of Georgia has added a new agrosecurity certificate program to focus on the issue.
UGA adds program in organic agriculture
April 19, 2007 — Sales of organic foods have exploded, moving the industry from a niche market to a nationwide phenomenon. In 1989, organic foods accounted for $1.25 billion in U.S. sales. By 2005, that number had jumped to $14 billion. This booming industry needs a steady stream of skilled, educated workers like Erica Mehan.
Food products industry bright spot in state
April 12, 2007 — In a year when Georgia's manufacturing sector is expected to have limited growth and heavy job losses, the food products industry is pulling clean of that trend.
Salmonella outbreak tracked back to Georgia plant
February 15, 2007 — The recent recall of peanut butter from a processing plant in Georgia should be viewed as an isolated food safety incident, not a ban on all peanut butter, says a University of Georgia expert.