Summer Workshop: “PREDICTIVE MICROBIOLOGY MODELLING IN FOODS”

Objective: To provide, in theoretical and practical sessions, a clear understanding of the different approaches to mathematically describe the dynamics of microorganisms in foods, using the R software.

Location: Braganza, Portugal

Date: 9th to 12th September 2014

Website: http://esa.ipb.pt/predmicro2014

ProSafeBeef was an Integrated Project supported under the 6th Framework Programme of the European Union. The project, co-ordinated by Teagasc Food Research Centre, focused on advancing Beef Safety and Quality through Research and Innovation. This project involved 41 leading research and industrial organisations working in 18 different countries and ran over a 6 year period (2007- 2012). The ProSafeBeef Project produced substantial data and technological outputs. In order to effectively communicate these technologies to stakeholders, a series of mini-publications have been developed. These four-page documents break the research down into a "digestible" format. Each TechKnowledge Digests covers a different research or technology output and they can be downloading by clicking on the links below.

Issue 1 Consumer Perceptions of Beef Safety and Healthiness

Issue 2 Increasing the Detection of Faecal Contamination in the Abattoir

Issue 3 Development of Antimicrobial Bipolymer Based Packaging Films

Issue 4 Nutritional qualities of beef

Issue 5 A Microbial Time Temperature Indicator (TTI) for monitoring beef quality

Issue 6 Consumer acceptance and perception of novel technologies for beef products

Issue 7 Tracking key pathogens in the beef chain

Issue 8 Genetic and genomic markers of beef quality

Issue 9 Immobilisation of bacteria on hides

Issue 10 Methods for the Detection of Anti-Parasitic Drug Residues in Beef

Issue 11 Modelling for the prediction of beef sensory quality

Issue 12 Survival and biofilm formation of bacterial pathogens on surfaces

Issue 13 Guidelines for marinating processes

Issue 14 How to reduce premature browning in cooked beef

Issue 15 Reducing Heterocyclic Amines (HA) formation in beef meat and improving our knowledge on consumer exposure

Issue 16 The use of models to monitor beef meat cooking processes

Issue 17 Sensory evaluation of beef cuts produced with different technologies

Issue 18 Raman spectroscopy for fat composition measurements

Issue 19 Consumer preferences for nutrition and health claims on beef steak

Issue 20 Effect of marination as new processing method on beef safety and spoilage

Issue 21 Bio-protective cultures

The safefood VTEC Knowledge Networks Annual Conference will take place on Thursday 17th October 2013 at the Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15. Closing date for receipt of abstracts for the Conference is today August 30th 2013. Further information available here

The Summer Workshop: “Predictive Microbiology Modelling in Foods 2013” will take place from the 9th to 13th September in Portugal. This five-day summer workshop provides participants with an excellent opportunity to learn the different approaches to mathematically describe the dynamics of microorganisms in foods. The objective is to provide a clear understanding of how to obtain accurate estimates on growth, death and survival of microorganisms in foods, including food-borne pathogens, as affected by changing intrinsic food properties and processing environments.

The PredMicro2013 Workshop is organised by the CIMO Mountain Research Centre, based at the School of Agriculture of the Polytechnic Institute of Braganza (Portugal) and will be lectured by Dr. Ursula Gonzales Barron and Dr. Vasco Cadavez in theoretical and practical morning sessions using the R software. Dr. Gonzales-Barron has wide experience in food microbial safety modelling including predictive microbiology and risk assessment of pathogens; and has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr. Cadavez’ expertise resides in the application of novel statistical and mathematical modelling techniques in animal science, agriculture and food safety using the R software.

 
For more information, please visit the  website and/or send an e-mail to: ubarron@ipb.pt

Brochure

The 5 year lifespan of the EU Framework project ProSafeBeef Project has produced significant data and technological outputs in the area of beef safety and quality. In order to effectively communicate these technologies to stakeholders, a series of 4 page publications have been printed which summarise key outputs and findings from the project.

http://www.prosafebeef.eu/technologies.asp

To view the summary reports from the recent safefood Knowledge Networks conference that took place in Belfast on the 1st and 2nd of May 2012 please click here

The deadline for early registration for the Global Food Safety Conference which will take place in Dublin in October is 27th July 2012. To register please click here

Teagasc and the RDS have joined forces to organise a public lecture series on the theme ‘Grand Challenges for Global Agriculture and Food’. Read more

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific opinion published 29th June, suggests that traditional poultry meat inspection may not suffice to fully address the most relevant biological hazards to public health: Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and ESBL/AmpC gene-carrying bacteria. Read more

A PhD Walsh Fellowship opportunity has arisen at Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre. The project will investigate verocytotoxigenic E. coli (including E. coli O157) super-shedding status in cattle. For more information please see attached. PhD%20opportunity.doc

A conference on Global Food Safety: Solutions for Today and Tomorrow will be held on October 23^rd to 25^th 2012 at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin. The conference is a joint initiative between Teagasc, The Institute for Food Science and Technology of Ireland (IFSTI), the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and University College Dublin. This three day international conference, with associated workshops, will address known and emergent chemical and microbial contaminants which affect food safety along the farm to fork chain. The conference will host a number of world renowned experts in the area of food safety presenting the latest findings at primary production level and during processing and distribution. The changing face of food borne outbreaks and the management of such issues at a global level will also be considered.  Abstract submission is now open.  For further information visit www.globalfoodsafetyconference.com

 Presentations from the recent safefood Knowledge Networks conference in Belfast (1-2 May 2012) are now available. Please click here to view.

The latest programme and information about the upcoming conference can be found here