Hosted by Public Health Ontario and Food Forum for Industry and Government in Southwestern Ontario
This multi-presentation webinar will provide a comprehensive examination of Salmonella contamination in low moisture foods, with emphasis on emerging scientific insights and recent large scale outbreak investigations in Canada. The first presentation will outline the unique challenges associated with detecting and controlling Salmonella in low water activity matrices such as seeds and spices. Drawing on multiple Canadian outbreak events, the presentation will provide current research on pathogen behavior, advances in detection methodologies, and mitigation strategies applicable to food preparation and processing.
Subsequent presentations will address the multi jurisdictional investigation of a multi-strain Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios. Speakers will outline the scope and complexity of this investigation—highlighting the epidemiological findings, extensive product sampling and numerous recalls.
Presentations will provide information on the coordinated risk management actions taken, including targeted recalls, enhanced import controls, public communications, and ultimately a ban on pistachio imports from Iran. Together, these presentations will provide both scientific insight and real world lessons on outbreak response, risk mitigation, and protecting public health in the context of low moisture food safety. Detailed abstracts and learning objectives for each presentation are available on the Food Forum for Industry and Government in Southwestern Ontario’ website at https://www.ffigs.ca/.