News and Events

This year's grand prize winner of Grow NY was Every Body Eat, from Chicago, IL. Their food products are made without the major allergens (milk/dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, crustacean shellfish, fish, wheat, soybeans/soy products, and sesame).

Congratulations to members of the IFS@CU and its collaborating programs who were part of the COVID-19 Food Safety Response Team! They received the 2021 Cornell CALS Team Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Extension and Outreach.

New research published this month, from a collaboration between the lab groups of Renata Ivanek and Martin Wiedmann, illustrates the use of digital models of fresh-cut produce facilities to identify the optimal times and locations to look for the presence of Listeria helping to prevent food contamination.

Funding to help develop and implement food safety and Food Safety Modernization Act-related training was announced through the USDA-NIFA Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP). Here's the full list of FSOP funded projects in 2021.

The Midwest-based Artisan Grain Collaborative (AGC) and the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) at Vermont Law School released a new guide for food-grade grain farmers and processors on FSMA's Preventive Controls for Human Food rule.

Marking an important milestone in food safety, the first Food Safety Partnership Annual Meeting was held on August 20, 2021 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its regulatory counterparts in Mexico. Their four strategic priorities include: 1) foodborne illness prevention, 2) enhanced coordination for outbreak response, 3) regulatory laboratory coordination and 4) food safety training opportunities for industry.

The Elmer Marth Educator Award was presented to Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Bihn, Director of the Produce Safety Alliance and IFS@CU's Executive Director, at this year's International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) 2021 Annual Meeting. This award recognizes her dedication, exceptional contributions, and outstanding service to public education in food safety and food protection. Congratulations, Betsy!

This year's IAFP 2021 Annual Meeting is a hybrid meeting, with in person and virtual attendees. Cornell's own Dr. Bob Gravani presented during the opening session of the meeting giving the distinguished Ivan Parkin Lecture.