Making News | BFTV Cluster News

UC Davis Yeast Discovery Paves the Way for New Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

Over a decade ago, researchers at UC Davis noticed something unusual while studying yeast: tiny oil droplets sinking to the bottom of a flask. The strain of yeast was producing a natural compound with soap-like properties, and now it’s being developed as an ingredient in cleaning products that are gentle on skin and environmentally friendly.

Awards & Honors

Viticulture and Enology

Awards and honors continue to roll in for the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology (V&E) faculty. We’re thrilled to share that our very own V&E Professor Dario Cantù has been named one of 471 newly elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)! These fellows are recognized for their exceptional achievements in science, including research, teaching, administration and science communication.

Maria Marco on NPR's Morning Edition - Secret superfood in white rice and pasta

Food Science and Technology

Can you change "bad" carbs into "good" ones? In this very interesting story featuring FST's Maria Marco, "There's a secret superfood in white rice and pasta: Here's how to unlock it", from NPR's Morning Edition, May 12th, you'll learn about resistant starch, and how to convert "naughty" white rice and pasta into a slower-digesting form that is friendlier to our blood sugar because it contains more resistant starch (fiber).

Selina Wang talks oils on The Dave Chang Show podcast

Food Science and Technology

FST's Selina Wang is the guest on today's The Dave Chang Show podcast, where she, Dave, and host Chris Ying discuss the hot topic of seed oils and other cooking oils - what is healthy and why? Dave shares his opinions as a chef and restaurateur, and Selina explains some chemistry, along with factors like dose, time, temperature, and the fact that people are not rats. Tune in at 14:46 minutes for the start of her segment, which ends around 1:01 hr. The whole video is 1 hr. 25 min and is rated explicit for language.

What to Know About Processed and Ultra-Processed Food

Food Science and Technology

Experts Weigh In on the Debate Behind How Processed Foods Could Affect Health Take a stroll down the middle aisles of any American grocery store, and you’ll be surrounded by rows of brightly colored packaged macaroni and cheese, instant soups and chips in all forms and flavors — all with long ingredient lists.

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

Food Science and Technology

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.

Linda J. Harris presents UGA's J. G. Woodroof Lecture for 2025

Food Science and Technology

FST's Distinguished Professor of Cooperative Extension in Microbial Food Safety, Linda Harris, gave the prestigious 2025 J. G. Woodroof Lecture, which was part of the spring 2025 Provost’s Signature Lecture Series, at Department of Food Science and Technology at University of Athens, Georgia, on April 10th. (Event Flyer, PDF 2.2 MB)

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.