University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Food Safety

Working to make food safer
For decades, the UGA Center for Food Safety has been one of the nation's leading research centers and an international leader for food safety and food microbiology research. The center's state-of-the-art facilities enable faculty to conduct cutting-edge research in food safety that benefits the food industry, government agencies and consumers. Scientists pursue scientific research that contributes valuable information to the food industry for solving problems related to foodborne pathogens, which in turn provides consumers with wholesome foods that have minimal risk to human health.
See Related Impact Statements
Bioactive food components for human health. (2018) Quasi-metagenomics and realtime sequencing aided detection and subtyping of Salmonella enterica from food samples (2018) Methods Evaluation for Reduction of Foodborne Pathogens in Biofilm and RTE Meat (2017) Salmonella's Tolerance to Desiccation and Thermal Resistance under Dry Conditions (2017)
Quicker Identification
UGA scientist creates system to detect food pathogens in hours, not days
Quick, efficient pathogen detection and fingerprinting is essential and often lifesaving when it comes to preventing foodborne illness. University of Georgia food scientist Xiangyu Deng has created a system that can identify foodborne pathogens much quicker than traditional methods.

Food Safety Research News

University of Georgia Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus Larry Beuchat (right) and UGA Professor Francisco Diez were recognized by the International Association for Food Protection at the association’s annual meeting held July 21–24, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky. CAES News
University of Georgia Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus Larry Beuchat (right) and UGA Professor Francisco Diez were recognized by the International Association for Food Protection at the association’s annual meeting held July 21–24, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Beuchat, Diez honored by International Association for Food Protection
Two University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences food scientists have been presented awards of excellence from the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus Larry Beuchat and Professor Francisco Diez were recognized at the association’s annual meeting held July 21–24 in Louisville, Kentucky.
An increase in illnesses that trace back to wheat products has prompted scientists in the UGA Center for Food Safety to search for ways to eliminate pathogens in raw wheat without affecting the quality or taste of the staple food. In wheat-related cases, cookie dough, cake batter and raw wheat flour are common carriers of foodborne pathogens. CAES News
An increase in illnesses that trace back to wheat products has prompted scientists in the UGA Center for Food Safety to search for ways to eliminate pathogens in raw wheat without affecting the quality or taste of the staple food. In wheat-related cases, cookie dough, cake batter and raw wheat flour are common carriers of foodborne pathogens.
Scientists at UGA search for ways to control pathogens on wheat berries
Consumers have long been warned against the hazards of eating raw cookie dough. As more cases of foodborne illness are linked to contaminated wheat flour, University of Georgia food safety experts are touting the risk in a louder, more forceful voice, while searching for ways to eliminate foodborne pathogens on wheat products.
Ronald Pegg is a professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He was named a 2019 Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor and received the UGA Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2013. CAES News
Ronald Pegg is a professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He was named a 2019 Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor and received the UGA Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2013.
Food scientist Ronald Pegg loves to see the light switch on in his students
Whether food scientist Ronald Pegg is chasing coffee “from bean to cup” in Costa Rica or pinpointing the phenolic antioxidant constituents in Georgia pecans, he has a passion for inspiring an investigative spirit in his students. 
See More

The UGA Center for Food Safety in Griffin, Ga. was established in 1993 with a mission of maintaining and improving the safety of foods through the development of methods that detect, control or eliminate pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins.

UGA Center for Food Safety