Innovation.....
While the US meat industry struggled to cope with consumer concerns over the use of 'pink slime' and officials in China sweated over the latest contamination, the men with no names - the researchers - continued in their work to develop the quickest, simplest and most innovative ways to detect substandard and contaminated food.
So far, 2012 has seen research surrounding the innovative use of firefly enzymes and gold nanoparticles in pathogen detection to name a few.
Developers have entered into food safety agreements with food safety authorities and methods including the use of DNA, infrared and cold plasma have been improved.
DNA-nanotech development will move pathogen testing from lab to field - developer
Infrared, hot-air almond pasteurisation combo kills Salmonella - USDA
Firefly enzyme technology offers quick pathogen detection option - developer
Cold plasma shows potential for Listeria reduction in packaged RTE foods - research
Agilent to boost Salmonella and food fraud detection through double edged FDA pact
Gold nanoparticles offer quick and easy Salmonella detection - developer