ABOUT US
Dr. Feng is dedicated to the research and extension of human factors in the safety of food. She uses interdisciplinary tools to identify and evaluate factors that result in behavioral change among food workers and consumers, and develops food safety education interventions targeting behavioral change to increase food safety practice compliance. She is also interested in public perception of safety-enhancing food processing technologies and designing culturally-tailored communication interventions to increase consumer acceptance.
January 2022, Power Greens Packaged Salad E. coli Outbreak
On January 6, 2022, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified an outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 linked to Nature’s Basket Power Greens and Simple Truth Organic Power Greens. Both salad blends contain organic spinach, mizuna, kale, and chard and were sourced from Salinas and Imperial Valley, CA…
READ MOREFood Safety Week
When: November 7th-11th, 2022 Where: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN General information: Receive certification for HACCP and PCQI training to develop knowledge and skills to implement and manage food safety assurance throughout the supply chain Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jayson Lusk, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University Dr. Jayson…
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June 2020, Red Seaweed Outbreak
In 2020, red seaweed was associated with an outbreak of E. coli O7:H4 in Japan. Imported in 2017, the red seaweed was contaminated with a strain of E. coli that carries the astAgene for enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST 1). The gene was detected in fecal specimens of patients and usually causes relatively mild symptoms. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), symptoms of E. coli food poisoning include stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting, and sometimes a…
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November 30, Tahini Recall
On November 8, 2021, the International Golden Foods, Inc (IGF) in Bensenville, IL voluntarily recalled a certain lot code of Al Kanater brand tahini due to a potential contamination with Salmonella. The contamination was revealed through random sampling results by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Consumers that have purchased the recalled product should not eat or cook the product and discontinue use and return to store of purchase for a full refund. Retailers that have further distributed…
READ MOREOctober 29th, Dole Fresh Recall
On October 29th, 2021, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. announced a voluntary recall for several cases of garden salad resulting from a possible health risk of Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses linked to the cases have been reported, but the recall stems from a single sample of garden salad testing positive in a random sampling performed by the Department of…
READ MORE“Back to the Buffet: Food Safety in a post-COVID World.”
For our neighbors up north, the Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated on the second Monday of October. In 2021, Canadian Thanksgiving fell on October 11. In light of many friends and family gathering around the dinner table to feast on all our fall favorites, the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada is hosting its 18th annual and 2nd virtual symposium, “Back to the Buffet: Food Safety in a post-COVID World.” The sessions will cover topics from food safety challenges…
READ MOREPandemic Response and Safety Grant Program – Applications due November 22
The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides funding to help small specialty crop producers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors and farmers markets recover costs incurred responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including for measures to protect workers. This program is authorized and funded under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116—260). The minimum…
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Lab Trip to Wea Creek Orchard
To kick start the new school year, the members of Dr. Feng’s lab visited the Wea Creek Orchard in Lafayette, Indiana to come together for the first time after a long summer break. The Wea Creek Orchard had a variety of apples to pick from Golden Delicious to Fuji to Red Jonathans and many more. Also, the lab was fortunate to pick some of the last peaches of the season. And so, each person was…
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October 20, Whole, Fresh Onion Recall
On October 20, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported an ongoing investigation of outbreaks of Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to whole, fresh onions. The FDA identified ProSource Produce, LLC (also known as ProSource Inc) of Hailey, Idaho and Keeler Family Farms of Deming, New Mexico as supplied of…
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