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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #161413

Title: PREHARVEST AND POSTHARVEST FOOD SAFETY: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Author
item Beier, Ross
item PILLAI, SURESH - TX A&M UNIVERSITY
item PHILLIPS, TIMOTHY - TX A&M UNIVERSITY
item Ziprin, Richard

Submitted to: Preharvest and Postharvest Food Safety
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/5/2004
Publication Date: 5/3/2004
Citation: Beier, R.C., Pillai, S.D., Phillips, T.D., Ziprin, R.L., editors. 2004. Preharvest and postharvest food safety: Contemporary issues and future directions. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing Professional. 455 p.

Interpretive Summary: The concept of this book originated from a meeting chaired by Elsa A. Murano when she was Director of the Center for Food Safety, a unit of the Institute for Food Science and Engineering, at Texas A&M University. Through this endeavor many scientists were brought together on the subject of Food Safety. The book consists of six parts selected on the basis of research priorities identified by an American Academy of Microbiology report, and the specific areas are the following: (1) Pathogen/Host Interactions; (2) Ecology, Distribution, and Spread of Foodborne Hazards; (3) Antimicrobial Resistance; (4) Verification Tests; (5) Decontamination and Prevention Strategies; and (6) Risk Analysis. The book discusses the pathogens important in food safety along with many other food safety aspects. Chapter 7 discusses the potential for the organism that may be responsible for chronic inflammatory bowel disease of ruminants (Johne's) to be transferred through the food supply to humans, potentially causing inflammatory bowel disease in humans (i.e., Crohn's disease). Chapter 14 discusses transmissible spongiform Encephalopathies, or prion diseases, including BSE. Chapter 20 nicely spans the breadth of the whole book with a discussion of 'The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System and Importance of Verification Procedures.' Chapter 30 discusses the importance of food-handling behavior, and suggests that perhaps young people may be instructed in food-handling procedures and food safety philosophies in High School. There are far more food safety issues covered in the book than can be mentioned here. An important concept throughout this book is that each author has tried to indicate future research needs in their respective research area.

Technical Abstract: The concept of this book originated from a meeting chaired by Elsa A. Murano when she was Director of the Center for Food Safety, a unit of the Institute for Food Science and Engineering, at Texas A&M University. Through this endeavor many scientists were brought together on the subject of Food Safety. The book consists of six parts selected on the basis of research priorities identified by an American Academy of Microbiology report, and the specific areas are the following: (1) Pathogen/Host Interactions; (2) Ecology, Distribution, and Spread of Foodborne Hazards; (3) Antimicrobial Resistance; (4) Verification Tests; (5) Decontamination and Prevention Strategies; and (6) Risk Analysis. The book discusses the pathogens important in food safety along with many other food safety aspects. Chapter 7 discusses the potential for the organism that may be responsible for chronic inflammatory bowel disease of ruminants (Johne's) to be transferred through the food supply to humans, potentially causing inflammatory bowel disease in humans (i.e., Crohn's disease). Chapter 14 discusses transmissible spongiform Encephalopathies, or prion diseases, including BSE. Chapter 20 nicely spans the breadth of the whole book with a discussion of 'The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System and Importance of Verification Procedures.' Chapter 30 discusses the importance of food-handling behavior, and suggests that perhaps young people may be instructed in food-handling procedures and food safety philosophies in High School. There are far more food safety issues covered in the book than can be mentioned here. An important concept throughout this book is that each author has tried to indicate future research needs in their respective research area.