BFTV Cluster News

Kasey Schalich wins GPA Young Researcher Award for Fundamental/Primary Research

A big congratulations to Dr. Kasey Schalich, currently a postdoctoral researcher in David Mills' lab in the Department of Food Science and Technology, who has won the Global Prebiotic Association's Young Researcher Award for Fundamental/Primary Research in their 5th Annual Global Prebiotic Association Researcher Grant.

The Gut Health Benefits of Sauerkraut

Food Science and Technology

Is sauerkraut more than just a tangy topping? A new University of California, Davis, study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology suggests that the fermented cabbage could help protect your gut, which is an essential part of overall health, supporting digestion and protecting against illness.

Ask the Experts: What are ultra-processed foods and how do they impact our health?

Food Science and Technology

Three UC Davis experts answer your questions to provide insight based on research. Diet. Just the word alone can trigger an uneasy feeling and heated discussions with seemingly endless flavors of recommendations.

Selina Wang on cooking oils, for The Washington Post

Food Science and Technology

FST's Dr. Selina Wang is quoted extensively in a March 7, 2025 story in The Washington Post, "Which oil do you cook with? The answer can impact your health. Extra-virgin olive oil has the most scientific evidence for its health benefits. But avocado and high-oleic vegetable oils are also good for your health." (Paywall applies.)

New Center Expands Food Safety Training and Support for Growers

Food Science and Technology

Small and diverse farms are a vital part of California’s food system, but navigating food safety regulations can be challenging, especially for those with limited access to training and resources. To bridge this gap, UC Davis is leading an effort to establish the California Center for Food Safety, a new hub offering growers the education and support they need to meet food safety standards.

Maria Marco Among 65 Fellows Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Food Science and Technology

Washington, D.C. – February 14, 2025 – The American Academy of Microbiology (the Academy) has elected Maria Marco and 64 peers to the Class of 2025.

A Sensory Experiment with Korean Street Food

Food Science and Technology

Researchers Study How Context Influences Perceptions of Unfamiliar Foods

In South Korea, a popular street food offers a unique twist on the corndog – featuring a hot dog or mozzarella cheese coated in thick, crispy batter, deep-fried and topped with pieces of French fries, ketchup and a sprinkle of sugar.

For Daniel Schoonbrood, a Ph.D. student studying food science at UC Davis, his first taste of this savory snack left a lasting impression.

What Is Processed Food? It Depends on Who You Ask

Food Science and Technology

Professor Charlotte Biltekoff's New Book Examines Tensions Between Americans and the Food Industry

In her new book, Real Food, Real Facts: Processed Food and the Politics of Knowledge, Charlotte Biltekoff explores friction between the U.S. public and food industry marketers when it comes to food processing.

Biltekoff, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Food Science and Technology and Department of American Studies at UC Davis, straddles these two worlds — the food industry and cultural studies.

More Than a Taste Test - What It’s Like to be on a Trained Sensory Panel

Food Science and Technology

Pieces of dried mango rest on the bottom of a black opaque goblet. Next to it, another glass contains apricot jam. Leticia Cardoso Madureira Tavares, a second-year Ph.D. student in biosystems engineering, brings the glasses up to her nose one at a time to take a sniff.