Food Contamination News and Research

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How intensive poultry farming accelerated the evolution of Campylobacter

Intensive poultry farming transforms Campylobacter jejuni ecology, enhancing host adaptability and raising concerns for foodborne illness transmission.

31 Jul 2026

Fear of new foods may affect more than dietary variety

Higher food neophobia was associated with poorer self-reported physical and mental health among 4,537 adults in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The relationship remained after accounting for age, gender, education, and country, although the cross-sectional study could not establish causation.

14 Jul 2026

Scientists discover how food poisoning bacteria protect themselves from antibiotics

Scientists from the Department of Microbiology of the University of Malaga, also members of the Institute of Subtropical and Mediterranean Horticulture 'La Mayora' (IHSM), have discovered a hitherto unknown mechanism that allows the bacterium Bacillus cereus, which is responsible for food poisoning and human infections, to protect itself against antibiotics and adverse conditions.

23 Jun 2026

Can one fake news story change your behavior?

This study challenges the notion that fake news easily shifts behaviors, showing minimal effects from single exposures, particularly in non-political areas.

2 Oct 2025

New strategies to tackle resistant foodborne pathogens

Innovative approaches in food and beverage analysis are transforming pathogen detection and control, emphasizing the role of natural compounds and sequencing.

19 Aug 2025

Public health impact of synthetic chemicals in food is underestimated

Scientists highlight the evidence of increasing public health impacts from exposure to synthetic chemicals in food.

16 May 2025

Household dogs found to contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella

Antibiotic-resistant Salmonella is a serious public health concern that has increased in recent years as the bacteria have developed ways to survive drugs.

9 Jan 2025

Higher urinary metal levels linked to increased cardiovascular risk

Higher levels of urinary metals such as cadmium, tungsten, uranium, cobalt, copper and zinc are linked to increased cardiovascular disease and mortality in a racially and ethnically diverse U.S. population, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

1 Aug 2024

Study reveals impact of lantibiotic preservatives on gut microbiome

Food manufacturers often add preservatives to food products to keep them fresh. A primary purpose of these preservatives is to kill microbes that could break down and otherwise spoil the food.

2 Feb 2024

Widespread exposure to toxic metals linked with earlier aging of the ovaries in middle-aged women

Middle-aged women who are exposed to toxic metals may have fewer eggs in their ovaries as they approach menopause, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

25 Jan 2024

New optical signature in magnetic beads could quickly detect contaminants in diagnostic tests

Getting results from a blood test can take anywhere from one day to a week, depending on what a test is targeting. The same goes for tests of water pollution and food contamination.

25 Aug 2023

New directions for tackling food safety risks in the informal sector of developing countries

A groundbreaking report commissioned by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the CGIAR Initiative on One Health highlights the urgent need for innovative strategies to address food safety risks in the informal sector of developing countries.

8 Jun 2023

Emerging DNA-based sensors are promising tools for food safety

In a recent study published in the journal TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, researchers discussed the current trends, challenges, and future of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based sensors in real-time and rapid food contaminants analysis.

18 May 2022

Cornell researchers develop a “digital twin” to help the food industry stop Listeria outbreaks

Researchers from Cornell University are blending food science expertise and computer programming savvy to help the food industry stop Listeria outbreaks.

18 Oct 2021

Are bat retroviruses a threat to humans?

Zoonotic viruses that bats transmit are capable of infecting humans and have caused devastating infections throughout the world.

9 Sep 2021

Research surveys hygiene practices in food supply chains during COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers survey hygiene procedures in food supply chains implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

5 Apr 2021

What are the main food safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic?

A new study deals with the main food safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

17 Feb 2021

Durable coating for hard surfaces could help avoid food contamination

In the future, a durable coating could help keep food-contact surfaces clean in the food processing industry, including in meat processing plants.

16 Jul 2020

Researchers create new coating to prevent cross-contamination between fresh produce

Over the course of their journey from the open fields to the produce displays at grocery stores, fresh vegetables and fruits can sometimes become contaminated by microorganisms. These items can then spoil other produce, spreading the contamination further and increasing the number of food items that can cause illnesses.

23 Apr 2020

Some plant foods causing paralysis, death, in malnourished populations

There are a lot of plants eaten for food that may also contain toxins that harm the brain and the nervous system, when present in amounts that cross the limit of individual tolerance. This happens when such toxin-containing foods are the chief or only source of nutrition.

26 Oct 2019