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  • Article Item
    FDA bans Red Dye No. 3 in food: Expert shares what you need to know , article

    The Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food, decades after concerns that it is a significant cancer risk and contributes to hyperactivity in children. Virginia Tech food safety expert Melissa Wright says manufacturers will now have to find suitable alternatives that maintain the quality customers expect.

    Date: Jan 23, 2025
  • Article Item
    Avoid holiday foodborne illness with tips from Virginia Tech food safety experts , article

    Meals at Thanksgiving and other holidays serve as great social occasions for catching up with family and friends — and for the sake of all gathered, the culinary delights on the table should be not just delicious and visually sumptuous, but also safe. Melissa Wright, director of Virginia Tech’s Food Producer Technical Assistance Network, and Lester Schonberger, associate extension specialist, are both faculty members in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Food Science and Technology and explain what you can do to reduce your risk of foodborne illness this holiday season.

    Date: Nov 15, 2024
  • Article Item
    Have a bounty of Virginia apples? Here’s how to keep them fresh longer , article

    To preserve them, you could make applesauce or pie filling — but with proper storage technique, you can also keep your apples fresh for eating through the winter.

    Date: Nov 14, 2024
  • Article Item
    In memoriam: Joseph E. Marcy, professor and former department head, Department of Food Science and Technology , article

    Marcy, esteemed researcher, professor, mentor to many, and former department head, died on Aug. 26 at the age of 72. A celebration of life will be held Sept. 28 at Blacksburg United Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m.

    Date: Sep 25, 2024
  • Article Item
    News of contaminated deli meat highlights consumer concerns, food science expert supplies safety tips , article

    A listeria outbreak that claimed the lives of nine people has been linked to consumption of contaminated deli meat. Virginia Tech Associate Extension Specialist Lester Schonberger offers tips for what to do when you’re worried that food you bought could be part of a recall, as well as safe food handling practices that always apply.

    Date: Sep 03, 2024
  • Video Item
    Food Science partnership helps small business thrive , video

    Alexis Hamilton’s food microbiology lab in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is partnering with local Washington, D.C. based business Soupergirl. The goal is to improve the shelf life of Soupergirl's food products, so the company can expand into bigger markets.

    Date: May 10, 2024
  • Article Item
    Veterinary college graduate Ashley Johnson awarded prestigious Hogg Scholarship for food safety studies , article

    Ashley Johnson DVM '13 has been named a 2024 American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Foundation Hogg Scholarship recipient.

    Date: Mar 12, 2024
  • Article Item
    Expert provides food safety tips following charcuterie meat Salmonella outbreak , article

    Whether it’s building out a big spread for the Super Bowl or planning a Valentine’s Day meal, lots of people will be heading to the store these next few weeks to stock up on food. One item many might be considering is charcuterie. A recent Salmonella outbreak linked to charcuterie meats has raised some concerns, but Virginia Tech food safety expert Katheryn Parraga-Estrada explains that not all charcuterie products are involved in this outbreak and offers tips for selecting the right meats.

    Date: Feb 05, 2024
  • Video Item
    Virtual reality training aims to reduce foodborne illness , video

    Virginia Tech researchers are developing virtual reality experiences to help extension agents teach farmers and farmers market managers about food safety. Users will step into a virtual farm and farmers market where they move through spaces while learning how to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

    Date: Sep 02, 2022
  • Video Item
    Food science student's apple-picking bag research aims to keep fresh produce safe from E. coli , video

    Cyril Ayuk Etaka, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Food Science and Technology, is working to determine how long E. coli can survive on various types of tree fruit-picking bag materials to help fruit producers ensure their products are safe when they reach consumers.

    Date: Aug 26, 2022
  • Video Item
    Virginia Tech: Good Agricultural Practices , video

    Amber Vallotton, fresh produce food safety coordinator with Virginia Cooperative Extension, assisted Mike Calhoun of Stover Shop Greenhouses in Churchville, Virginia, in acquiring his Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. GAP certification is a nationwide program that is being promoted in the commonwealth by Extension’s Fresh Produce Food Safety team at Virginia Tech to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the fresh produce food supply chain. This certification allowed Calhoun to expand his lettuce-growing business to large retailers. Certification is not the program’s only goal, however. Vallotton and her team are seeking to foster a fresh produce food safety culture in Virginia from farm to fork regardless of whether or not farmers pursue GAP certification.

    Date: Sep 13, 2018