Food Safety Expert Gibson Discusses Pathogens in the Food Industry in Monday Seminar

Fred Miller

Kristen Gibson is associate professor of food safety and microbiology, and a researcher and scientist with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

FAYETTEVILLE – Kristen Gibson is discussing foodborne pathogens, their impact on the foodservice industry and safety measures for the public, industry employees and others in a virtual seminar on Monday.

Gibson is associate professor of food safety and microbiology in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's Department of Food Science. She's also a researcher and scientist with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

Gibson is the presenter for Monday's Department of Food Science Fall Graduate Seminar Series, discussing "Prevention and Control of Highly Transmissible Viruses in Retail Foodservice Operations."

The seminar is 3:05-3:55 p.m. and guests are invited to attend via Zoom here. The meeting ID is 859 2262 8188 and the passcode is Fdsc*5001.

According to Gibson, foodborne pathogens such as human norovirus garner the most attention in regard to retail foodservice operations and keeping customers safe, however, as we continue to move through the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for validated recommendations and best practices on how to get the foodservice industry back up and running while also protecting the public, industry employees and regulators against COVID-19.

Her seminar will look at best practices for norovirus and discuss how they may be applicable for control of SARS-CoV-2 — the causative agent of COVID-19 — as well as additional control measures that may also be needed.

Her virtual presentation is open to anyone.

Gibson was also featured on a recent episode of UA's Short Talks from the Hill podcast, discussing the coronavirus and safety precautions.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 3 percent of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.