LSU AgCenter Food Safety

Last week, we hosted
our FSPCA training at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Participants had the chance to deepen their knowledge of Food Safety Modernization Act
(FSMA) regulations, equipping them with essential skills for food safety compliance.
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated speakers and enthusiastic participants who made this event successful.
Congratulations to all the newly certified
Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals (PCQI)!
Stay tuned for more information about future trainings!

On-farm food safety workers training was offered in Spanish at Liuzza Land in Independence, LA. Seven farm workers were trained on the basis of food safety and the role that they play in ensuring that fresh produce is safe for human consumption, the training included workers health and hygiene, land, and wildlife and domesticated animals management.

A Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers highlights why food safety matters at every step—from farm to table.
Before you add that extra kick to your meal:
✅ Check current recall and outbreak notices
✅ Avoid eating recalled products
✅ Wash hands, utensils, and food-contact surfaces after handling produce.
✅ Keep fresh produce separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood
Remember: contaminated produce may look, smell, and taste completely normal.
Stay informed. Handle produce safely. Protect yourself and your family.

Congratulations, Sheetal! 🎓✨
A huge congratulations to Sheetal on successfully passing her PhD Candidacy Exam! 🥳
This is an important milestone in the PhD journey and a reflection of your hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Wishing you continued success as you move forward with your research and toward earning that PhD! 💜💛
So proud of you, Sheetal! 👏

Food Safety Alert: Cyclospora Outbreak

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause intestinal illness, often linked to contaminated fresh produce. Outbreaks are an important reminder that food safety starts long before food reaches our plates—from growing and harvesting to handling and preparation. 🥬🍓

Stay informed, follow public health updates, and practice safe food handling to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Aakankshya, a PhD student, presented her research on the “Effect of Pre-Harvest and Post-Harvest Conditions on the Survival of Foodborne Pathogens on Fresh Produce Surfaces.” 🥬🔬
Her research focuses on understanding the factors that influence the survival of foodborne pathogens on fresh produce and the implications for produce safety.

Aakankshya is also serving as the Chair of the IAFP Student Professional Development Group (SPDG) this year, contributing to the food safety community through both research and leadership.

Ph.D. candidate Ivannova Lituma delivered a technical oral presentation on sanitation strategies in hydroponic systems at IAFP Conference. Her study evaluated UV-C light, pecan shell extract, and thermal treatments to target human pathogens like Listeria and E. coli and plant pathogen Pseudomonas spp. across production surfaces, lettuce seeds, and rockwool substrates.
The methods achieved significant microbial reductions, with pecan shell extract priming even boosting seed germination rates!
Proud to contribute sustainable food safety solutions for controlled environment agriculture.