Goal: To communicate the latest research and industry practices to understand and control the risk of bacterial pathogen contamination in low water activity foods.

Abstract: Over the last several decades, a number of salmonellosis outbreaks worldwide have been associated with the consumption of ready-to-eat low water activity products including powdered infant formula, chocolate, nuts, spices, and peanut butter. Furthermore, recent outbreaks of salmonellosis associated with dry pet foods have considerably emphasized the importance of these foods as vehicles for zoonotic pathogens. Recent advances in microbial risk assessment provide the analytical framework to evaluate low water activity food systems in a systematic and quantitative way, and to inform the development of risk-based policies and strategies. The overall goal of this symposium is to provide the latest information, which includes experimental data collection, microbial risk modeling, industry practices, on Salmonella control efforts in different low water activity foods including dry pet foods. Multiple industries, disciplines, and sectors will come together to discuss the latest research and industry actions to control bacterial pathogen contaminations in low water activity foods for humans and animals, from ingredients to consumption. This will range from bacterial cellular biology in low water activity environments (survival and resistance mechanisms), microbiological surveys, industry state-of-the-art practices to control pathogens, and risk modeling as an overarching tool to synthesize multidisciplinary knowledge and translate it into quantitative and actionable estimates.

Presentations