man in lab coat looks in microscope with various food items on table

2023 Food Safety Conference

Thank you to all of our speakers, sponsors, and attendees!

View the meeting recordings folder for all recordings

October 25, 2023
Virtual

Sonia Salas – Western Growers

Western Growers Priorities and Leading Efforts in Food Safety
Recording Link

Dr. Fred Breidt – USDA, ARS

Modeling the pH of Acid and Acidified Foods to Assure Safety
Recording Link

Dr. Jonathan James – Wayne Sanderson Farms

Food Safety in the Poultry Industry
Recording Link

Dr. Divya Jaroni – Oklahoma State University

Application of Bacteriophages in the Food Industry
Recording Link

Dr. Duarte Diaz – University of Arizona

Aflatoxins in Food with a Focus on Dairy Products
Recording Link

Jennifer Parlin – University of Arizona

The Garden Kitchen, a Whole Health Program from the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension
Recording Link


October 26, 2023
In-Person Career Panel

  • Dr. Joli Weiss – Arizona Department of Health Services

  • Dr. Kadeem Hinton - PetSmart

  • Dr. Duarte Diaz - Univerity of Arizona

Recording Link


Congratulations to our Student Poster Presenters

Student poster presenters competed for cash awards totaling $1,000 including:

  • Three $300 top presenter awards which were awarded to:
    • Jennifer Mydosh

    • Kevin Dalson

    • Kirat Khushwinder Bains

  • The Dr. Dan Engeljohn Crowd Favorite Award which includes a $100 award:
    • Dustin Loso

View poster abstracts below below.

Congratulations to our Staff Poster Presenters

Staff poster presenters competed for a travel/research award totaling $500:

  • One $500 top presenter award which were awarded to:
    • Dr. Victoria Obergh

View poster abstracts below below.


2023 Conference Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

  • ALVSCE Research
  • QIAGEN
  • School of Nutritional Science and Wellness

Gold Sponsors  

  • School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences
  • Western Growers Association
  • Department of Environmental Science
  • UArizona Cooperative Extension
  • CALES Academic and Career Services

Silver Sponsors

  • Phoenix Biometrics
  • Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory
  • Scott Resources
  • Duncan Family Farms

General Sponsors

  • Yuma Center for Excellence for Desert Agriculture
  • BioSafe Systems

 

Wed Oct 25 Virtual
1:00 pm

Welcome and Introductions

Sadhana Ravishankar - Food Safety Consortium Chair and Professor - The University of Arizona

1:20 pm

Keynote

Sonia Salas - Assistant Vice President, Science - Western Growers Association

Western Growers Priorities and Leading Efforts in Food Safety

2:00 pm

Fred Breidt - USDA/ARS Microbiologist - North Carolina State University

Modeling the pH of Acid and Acidified Foods to Assure Safety

2:30 pm

Jonathan James - Senior Director of Food Safety and Laboratory Services - Wayne Sanderson Farms

Food Safety in the Poultry Industry

3:00 pm Break
3:15 pm

Divya Jaroni - Associate Professor, Animal and Food Sciences - Oklahoma State University

Application of Bacteriophages in the Food Industry

3:45 pm

Duarte Diaz - Associate Specialist, Dairy - UArizona

Aflatoxins in Food with a Focus on Dairy Products

4:15 pm

Jennifer Parlin - Assistant Agent, The Garden Kitchen - UArizona Cooperative Extension

The Garden Kitchen, a Whole Health Program from the University of Arizona's Cooperative Extension

4:45 pm Conference Wrap-Up
5:00 pm Adjourn

 

Thurs Oct 26 In-Person - UArizona Kachina Lounge, Student Union - Tucson, AZ
1:00 pm Welcome and Conference Dedication Plaque Presentation
1:20 pm Careers in Food Safety Panel Discussion
2:15 pm Student/Staff Poster Session and Networking with light refreshments
4:00 pm Poster Session Award Presentation
4:20 pm Graduate Student Research Scholarship Award Presentation and Conference Wrap-Up
4:30 pm Adjourn

2023 Careers in Food Safety Panel Discussion Flyer


UArizona Student and Staff Poster Session

Student Poster Entries (listed in alphabetical order)

Kirat Khushwinder Bains

Title: Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Organic Sanitizers Against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Native Leafy Green Microbiota on Different Food Contact Surfaces
Authors: Kirat Khushwinder Bains, Libin Zhu, and Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Kevin Dalson

Title: Efficacy of Plant-based Antimicrobials against Streptococcus species in vitro
Authors: Kevin Dalson, Libin Zhu, and Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Nguyen Dang

Title: Soy Good! Edamame Multi-Snack Dip: Evaluation of Microbial and Quality Attributes
Authors: Nguyen Dang, Denver Paradeza, Kirat Khushwinder Bains, and Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Dustin Loso

Title: Characterizing phage encoded DNA methyltransferases of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)
Authors: Dustin Loso and Kerry K. Cooper

Abstract

Hannah Martinez

Title: Comparison of two gene targets for the prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Irrigation Waters from US Southwest Fresh Produce Growing Regions
Authors: Hannah Martinez, Khai Truong, Dominic Rodriguez, Cesily Cirerol, Miely A. Suarez, Ximena German, Avril Perez, Chloe Wilcox, Alyssa M. Gregory, Leila C. Yazzie, Scarlett Leon, Jessica Cruz, Celina Arredondo, and Gerardo U. Lopez

Abstract

Likitha raj Mudigonda

Title: Comparative Analysis of Inoculation and Recovery Techniques for Better Recovery of Listeria monocytogenes on Ready-to-eat Meats
Authors: Likitha Mudigonda, Vanshika Chauhan, Luis Rodríguez, and Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Jennifer Mydosh

Title: Carbon Utilization Differences of Campylobacter jejuni strains
Authors: Jennifer Mydosh, Kerry Cooper

Abstract

Urmi Patel

Title: Metagenomic Analysis and Functional Screening of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Santa Cruz River
Authors: Urmi Patel, Victoria Obergh, Caroline Scranton, Jean McLain, Katherine Ellingson, and Kerry Cooper

Abstract

Avril Perez

Title: Comparison of Two Gene Targets for the Prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Irrigation Waters from US Southeast Fresh Produce Growing Regions 
Authors: Avril Perez, Khai Truong, Dominic Rodriguez, Cesily Cirerol, Miely A. Suarez, Ximena German, Chloe Wilcox, and Gerardo U. Lopez

Abstract

Luis A. Rodriguez-Medina

Title: Evaluation of Fogger Technology with Plant-Based Sanitizers against Listeria monocytogenes in Different Food Products   
Authors: Luis A. Rodriguez-Medina, Libin Zhu, and Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Nyreek Thompson

Title: Efficacy of plant-based antimicrobials against foodborne pathogens Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in vitro   
Authors: Nyreek Thompson, Libin Zhu, Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Khai Truong

Title: Development of a Genotyping Workflow for Cyclospora cayetanensis in Irrigation Waters Using Oxford Nanopore MinION Sequencing
Authors: Khai Truong, Dominic Rodriguez, Cesily Cirerol, Miely Suarez, Ximena German, Avril Perez, Chloe Wilcox, Victoria Oberge, Kerry Cooper, and Gerardo U. Lopez

Abstract

 

Staff Poster Entries (listed in alphabetical order)

Alhan Mehrabi Yazdi

Title: A Comparison of the Total Native Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria on Field Grown versus Controlled Environmental Agriculture Grown Leafy Greens
Authors: Elizabeth Sargent, Alhan Mehrabi Yazdi, Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Bibiana Law

Title: Development of a real-time biosensor to detect foodborne pathogens in leafy greens production environments

Authors: Bibiana Law, Richard Park, Libin Zhu, Mark Witten and Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Lucy Li

Title: Education and outreach to improve food safety outcomes in tribal communities

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Elisabeth Alden, Natalie Brassill, Margarethe Cooper, Susan Sekaquaptewa, Juan Arias, Adonis Alamban, Grey Farrell, Alexendra Carlisle, Kristy Kinlicheenie, Alfred J. Fournier, Davis Blasini, Channah Rock, Trent Teegerstrom

Abstract

Lucy Li

Title: Mentoring Students in Food Safety, Pest Management and Public Health

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Jasmine Hardy, Kristy Kinlicheenie, Natalie Brassill, Margarethe Cooper, Channah Rock, Trent Teegerstrom

Abstract

Victoria Obergh

Title: Assessing the mutational rates of bacterial foodborne pathogens in different agricultural environments during long-term colonization or environmental cycling
Authors: Victoria Obergh, Craig T. Parker and Kerry Cooper

Abstract