Contaminated milk from one plant in Illinois sickened thousands with ‘Salmonella’ in 1985 − as outbreaks rise in the US, lessons from this one remain true

The legal, political and public health consequences of the largest Salmonella outbreak in the US underscore the importance of food safety inspections and disease surveillance.

Michael Petros, Clinical Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago • conversation
May 7, 2025 ~7 min

Bird flu flares up again in Michigan poultry – an infectious disease expert explains the risk to humans, chickens, cows and other animals

Officials have confirmed eight new outbreaks in Michigan poultry flocks since mid-December.

Kimberly Dodd, Dean of College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University • conversation
Jan. 16, 2025 ~10 min


America’s dairy farms are disappearing, down 95% since the 1970s − milk price rules are one reason why

Dairy farms are struggling to survive as production costs exceed sales. The result, consolidation, with more cows on bigger farms, has an impact on communities and knowing where your food comes from.

Elizabeth Eckelkamp, Associate Professor of Animal Science and Dairy Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee • conversation
Sept. 16, 2024 ~9 min

Cheesemaking is a complex science – a food chemist explains the process from milk to mozzarella

Cheesemaking is an ancient practice, and modern methods and chemistry have made it a science.

John A. Lucey, Professor of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
July 24, 2024 ~8 min

What is pasteurization? A dairy expert explains how it protects against foodborne illness, including avian flu

Before World War II, pathogens in milk accounted for 1 in 4 cases of foodborne diseases in the US. Pasteurization reduced this figure to less than 1%.

Kerry E. Kaylegian, Associate Research Professor of Food Science, Penn State • conversation
May 17, 2024 ~8 min

Bird flu detected in Colorado dairy cattle − a vet explains the risks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

A veterinarian and epidemiologist who studies infectious diseases in dairy cows discusses the outbreak, how cows recover and what the government is doing to keep the milk supply safe.

Jason Lombard, Associate Professor and Veterinarian, Colorado State University • conversation
May 10, 2024 ~8 min

How bird flu virus fragments get into milk sold in stores, and what the spread of H5N1 in cows means for the dairy industry and milk drinkers

Five livestock experts who study infectious diseases in the dairy industry explain the risks.

Todd Cornish, Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis • conversation
April 25, 2024 ~9 min

Why you can probably keep milk longer than you think (and why you should)

UK supermarket chain Morrisons recently announced it will use ‘best before’ instead of ‘use by’ dates on its milks. This change makes sense for the environment, and from a food safety perspective too.

Cath Rees, Professor of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham • conversation
Jan. 21, 2022 ~7 min


Bloodthirsty tsetse flies nurse their young, one live birth at a time – understanding this unusual strategy could help fight the disease they spread

This insect's unique reproductive biology could lead to new ways to control the species in the environment – and prevent the deadly sleeping sickness it spreads to people.

Geoff Attardo, Assistant Professor of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis • conversation
July 29, 2020 ~7 min

New Jersey's small, networked dairy farms are a model for a more resilient food system

Small-scale dairy farmers are struggling across the US – but in New Jersey they've developed a model that keeps their products and their customers local.

Simon Levin, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University • conversation
June 3, 2020 ~9 min

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