Listeria contamination is one of the major challenges faced by the food industry as the contaminated food consumption causes listeriosis. As a result of this, the food safety expert and mechanical engineering professor from the University of Houston has recently teamed up to tackle this serious issue. As afar as the disease is concerned, it majorly attacks newborns, pregnant females, older adults, and people of weak immune systems.
In the meanwhile, listeria monocytogenes is certainly not a concern in mechanical engineering, the findings have implications for Francisco Robles’ broad research efforts.
“Renewable energy is our main target, followed by a series of other applications, such as water purification and environmental control. We also plan to test against viruses, especially SARS-CoV-2, for viral control so if it works, we will focus on that, as well,” Robles told Laboratory Equipment.
Sujata Sirsat, who is Ph.D. in poultry science and an undergraduate class called Safety and Sanitation in the Hospitality Industry, has a different viewpoint. She’s looking to stop mass product recalls, federal warnings, hospitalizations, and the death of an estimated 260 people annually due to listeriosis.
Titanium-dioxide (TiO2) has long been an effective catalyst in the chemical industry with numerous applications but, since ultraviolet light is needed to activate it, there are limitations. Meanwhile, TiO2 is often used in the food industry as an additive or whitening agent for sauces and dressings, and is already considered safe by the FDA. It is also used in sunscreen for its protective effects against UV/UVB rays.
“Developing methodologies to promote activity of TiO2 under sunlight is a huge technological impact because we can take advantage of a very wide portion of the sunlight spectra from the infrared to the UV,” said Robles.
