Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Non-thermal processing technologies to inactivate foodborne viruses

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Food Processing & Technology

July 21-23, 2014 Hampton Inn Tropicana, Las Vegas, USA

Alvin Lee and Stephen Grove

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

According to the United States Centers for disease control and prevention, human enteric viruses are estimated to cause two-thirds of the foodborne illness in the U.S. each year, with the majority attributed to norovirus (NoV). Enteric viruses including NoV, hepatitis A and E viruses can enter the food supply through contaminated environmental factors or by contamination during handling and processing, resulting in outbreaks ranging from small isolated ones to epidemic. A number of innovative food processing technologies have been used to mitigate the risk viruses pose to our food supply. The effects of food processing technologies such as high pressure processing can result in more than 3.5-log10 TCID50 ml-1 reduction of hepatitis A virus and feline calicivirus for shellfish application while pulsed light can inactivate 4.5-log10 PFU ml-1 of MNV-1 within 10 s. The presentation will focus on inactivation strategies currently examined by NoroCORE, a USDANIFA Food Virology Collaborative funded by USDA, include high pressure processing, high power ultrasound and pulsed light applications. Such strategies could be incorporated into a quantitative risk assessment model which may be used to determine the risk management strategies that will determine appropriate process criteria on reducing the contamination of foods such as shellfish, fresh produce and RTE foods.

Biography :

Alvin Lee is Center Director and Associate Professor of Food Science and Nutrition and he is a Microbiologist and Virologist with more than 15 years research experience with a PhD from RMIT University, Australia in Biotechnology and Applied Biology. He currently leads IFSH Center for Processing Innovation and coleads the joint IFSH/FDA Microbiology Research Platform on food safety and defense related projects. He also manages the IFSH BSL-3 laboratory and pilot plant. Current research support includes funding from USDA, US FDA, National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and various industry contracts. He is an instructor for food microbiology in the IIT?s Masters of Science program and has mentored more than 25 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. He is currently an active member of the International Association for Food Protection ? serving on the IAFP Scientific Program Committee, American Society for Microbiology and Institute of Food Technologists ? serving on the Annual Scientific Meeting Program Advisory Panel.