Our 2024 in review and looking to 2025
What have we done in 2024 and what have we planned for 2025.
What have we done in 2024 and what have we planned for 2025.
By Philip Button – philip.button@foodmicrobiology.academy Lately, over the past few months, I’ve been working quite closely with some undergraduate students, from Monash University. The joy of working with such talent, the next generation of scientists, is no doubt a privilege. Being able to share my thoughts and insights, what I’ve done right, my journeys and most importantly what I’ve done wrong, with clear guidance to not leave it 20 or 30 years until you do this, or think that, and so on. This whole process though has again made me describe my interests and how I started along the professional path I love. I may be walking two paths, one wider than the other, but my microbiology path has been there since 1995. I have long had an interest in biology. At first, I thought I would be a botanist, or maybe a horticulturist, and I completed a short vocational course in horticulture in 1994. Upon focusing on my undergraduate Science degree, I had a vision to be zoologist, a z oology researcher. I could see myself in the Australian desert, spending weeks at a time studying native animals in Central Australia. Without much thought, this image or my professional just developed in my mind. Then, in the second semester of 1995 at Deakin University, a took a second-year genetics subject. This was my first, indirect, exposure to microbiology, through practical classes of the genetics of bacteria. For some reason, somehow, I had an affinity with microbiology and especially bacteriology. To this day, I don’t know what it is, or why, but I was just drawn to microbiology. I had absolute clarity, and when I moved back to Townsville and took up studies at James Cook University, I knew I would major in microbiology and took as many microbiology subjects as I could. Microbiology was taught through the Graduate School of Biomedical and Tropical Veterinary Sciences at the time, so I was taught by veterinarians, and learnt about veterinary diseases and pathology classes were using large domesticated animals. I undertook many microbiology subjects, and I think the only one I didn’t have a go at was marine microbiology. It was a great place to study microbiology. Come my final undergraduate semester, the environmental microbiology subject was transitioning to food microbiology, with the arrival of a new member of academic staff. I jumped in to food microbiology and while there was environmental content, on nutrient cycles and the like, the content was very heavily food focused. Not only foodborne pathogens, to keep in line with the clinical teaching and research that was undertaken at the University, but also in food fermentations too. I recall a sauerkraut practical, where we needed to monitor key parameters as the fermentation progressed. Despite getting in to food microbiology, but favourite subject was Mechanisms of Infectious Diseases that semester, a follow-on subject from Clinical Microbiology in first semester. This was my playground I felt, an area I loved and where I felt at home. I wasn’t outstanding in any of these subjects, but was doing ok. When final results were out, at the end of semester, for my final undergraduate semester, I was absolutely astonished when I only scored 50% for the infectious diseases subject – I was so close to failing the subject I loved so much. I still don’t know how that happened, maybe there was less bacteriology in that subject, perhaps, but whatever the case, it happened. At the same time, food microbiology was my best subject, certainly not great at 71%, but it was my best. Therefore, I made the choice to follow food microbiology. For various reasons, I’ve had to narrow my food microbiology path at times over the years, but it is always there, and I can’t bring myself to step away and leave food microbiology. No matter whether it is food quality and preservation, fermented foods and gut health or food safety, I do have a strong feeling with all of them, and have worked/researched in all these at different points in time over my career in food microbiology. Now, in the mid-2020s, I feel a career in food microbiology is just as relevant as to when I was developing my interest in it, perhaps more so now. Some of the global challenges of our time can certainly be linked to elements of food microbiology, or their solutions can be based in food microbiology. Antibiotic resistance, climate change and food security can all be linked to food microbiology in some way, then we have the great health and economic burden of foodborne disease too. Food microbiology continues to influence and impact our lives in such profound ways, and will no doubt continue to do so. So why do I love food microbiology? Is it the food element? Is it because it is a central science that is critical to society? Maybe it is just the pretty colours of microbiological media that I “grew up” with in the laboratory in the pre-molecular era. I really don’t know how much love for microbiology and especially food microbiology started and what is keeping my passion. Whatever the case, it is clear that the pull I have for food microbiology is too strong for me to abandon my love of and for bacteria!
High-acid beverages like fruit juices and soft drinks are highly popular in Australia due to their refreshing qualities and perceived health benefits. Factors such as consumer preferences, climate, innovation, export potential, and a rigorous regulatory environment contribute to their success. However, challenges like fluctuating raw material costs and public awareness of sugar’s health effects exist. Additionally, the industry faces microbial spoilage, particularly from Alicyclobacillus, which can impact product quality and consumer health. Research and control strategies are essential for safeguarding beverage quality and safety.
Today, 7 June 2023, is World Food Safety Day, a day the World Health Organisation has set aside to focus on failings in food safety and to celebrate achievements in food safety. This year’s theme is about how food standards in food safety save lives. There’s no doubt that they do. When one looks back to the 19th century, even, or maybe especially, in the the great industrialised nations of the modern world, up and coming food manufacturers, either out of ignorance or deliberately, manufactured foods that were certainly not in the public’s best interests. While we don’t have the level of morbidity and mortality we once did, there’s no doubt that foodborne disease represents a totally unacceptable high amount of illness, death and economic burden in our communities. What makes it even more difficult to understand is that foodborne illness is largely preventable, through the following of procedures, processes and protocols that have been developed following rigorous basic scientific research. Thus, food standards at all levels (local, state, federal), play an absolutely critical role in safeguarding the food supply of a nation. In this article, we want to focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a turning point in food safety in the United States that came into being only 12 years ago. IntroductionFSMA, enacted in 2011, is a landmark legislation that revolutionized food safety practices in the United States. Designed to address the challenges posed by an increasingly complex and global food supply chain, the FSMA introduced a comprehensive framework to prevent foodborne illnesses and ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply. This article examines the key provisions of the FSMA, its impact on the food industry, and the strides made in safeguarding public health through enhanced preventive measures and regulatory oversight. Overview of the FSMAThe FSMA shifted the focus of food safety in the USA from reactive measures to a proactive, preventive approach. It empowered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to set stringent standards and regulations across the entire food supply chain, from farm to fork. The act encompasses several key components, including preventative controls, inspections, import safety, response to outbreaks, and enhanced partnerships. Preventive controlsOne of the cornerstones of the FSMA is the establishment of preventive controls to identify and address potential hazards before they can cause harm. This includes the implementation of Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) by food facilities. HARPC mandates a systematic approach to evaluate and prevent biological, chemical, and physical hazards in food production, processing, and distribution. It requires food manufacturers to develop and implement comprehensive food safety plans, conduct regular risk assessments, and institute preventive measures. Inspections and complianceThe FSMA introduced a risk-based inspection strategy to ensure compliance with food safety standards. It provided the FDA with increased authority to conduct inspections, sampling, and testing of food facilities. The act also mandated the establishment of a third-party certification program, enabling accredited auditors to assess and certify compliance with the FSMA requirements. Non-compliant facilities can be subject to corrective actions, penalties, and even product recalls if necessary. Import safetyRecognizing the importance of imported foods in the American market, the FSMA strengthened the FDA’s oversight of imported food products. It mandated the development of a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), which places responsibility on importers to verify that their foreign suppliers meet U.S. safety standards. The act also granted the FDA authority to refuse entry to imported goods from non-compliant facilities and increased the frequency of inspections for high-risk products. Outbreak response and partnershipsIn the event of a foodborne illness outbreak, the FSMA equipped the FDA with enhanced tools to respond swiftly and effectively. It established a food tracing system to track and trace products throughout the supply chain, enabling rapid identification of the source of contamination. Furthermore, the FSMA emphasized collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, as well as industry stakeholders, to share information and resources and foster a culture of proactive food safety practices. Impact and challengesThe FSMA has had a profound impact on the food industry, leading to improved food safety practices and reduced foodborne illnesses. By shifting the focus towards prevention, the act has encouraged proactive measures, such as better recordkeeping, increased training, and improved sanitation practices. However, implementing the FSMA’s requirements posed challenges for smaller farms and food facilities due to resource constraints and compliance costs. To address these concerns, the FDA has provided educational resources, technical assistance, and flexibility in certain compliance deadlines. ConclusionThe Food Safety Modernization Act has transformed the landscape of food safety in the USA. By prioritizing prevention, enhancing regulatory oversight, and fostering collaboration, the FSMA has made significant strides in safeguarding public health and strengthening consumer confidence in the nation’s food supply. Continuous