Newsletter Coordinator:
Roshema Mel, M.Sc. Student
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences
University of Manitoba

 

Student Spotlight

Dharamdeo Singh is a Ph.D. student in Food Science at the prestigious University of Guelph, under the supervision of Dr. Lawrence Goodridge. With a profound dedication to food safety, Dharamdeo’s academic journey has equipped him with a strong foundation in this field.

Beginning with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and subsequently attaining a master’s degree in Food Safety and Quality Assurance, he encompassed a holistic perspective of food safety from farm to fork. His experience stems from a rich academic background rooted in academia to proactively seek food safety solutions by first serving as a teaching assistant at the University of the West Indies and later as a lecturer at the University of Guyana. Notably, Dharamdeo played a pivotal role in establishing a BSc program in Food Science at the University of Guyana. He currently serves as the Student Board of Director for the Ontario Food Protection Association (OFPA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering knowledge exchange and educational events focused on food safety in the context of Ontario’s food manufacturing industry.

Dharamdeo’s current research is dedicated to comprehensively understanding and characterizing the survival of Salmonella in low-water activity foods. Low-water activity foods were previously considered safe from a microbiological perspective, the persistent associations between low-water activity foods and salmonellosis have prompted a focused investigation into the survival mechanisms employed by Salmonella in these conditions. By delving into the genetic and phenotypic traits of the pathogen over time, Dharamdeo aims to shed light on the intricate mechanisms at play.

This research holds immense promise for multiple stakeholders, including food producers, manufacturers, consumers, regulatory agencies, and public health organizations. By advancing our understanding of the specific food safety risks associated with low-water activity foods, Dharamdeo’s work will contribute to establishing improved regulations, enhanced manufacturing processes, and implementing effective food safety interventions. Ultimately, these endeavors will contribute to the assurance of a safer food supply.

With his resolute dedication and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of food safety research, Dharamdeo is poised to make significant contributions that will shape the future of food safety practices on a global scale.

Upcoming events

National:

British Columbia Section:

Ontario Section:

  • September 13, 2023: 48th Annual Golf Tournament and Dinner, Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility, 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM: https://cifst.wildapricot.org/event-5268270
  • November 7, 2023: 33rd Annual Suppliers’ Night Tabletop Exhibition, International Centre, Mississauga, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm EST. Registration opens soon.

The CIFST Student Committee is looking for volunteers to join their committee beginning in September 2023. To qualify, you need to be enrolled in a post-secondary Food Science or Nutrition program in Canada and be a student member of CIFST in good standing. Please send your interest to heidi@cifst.ca We will hold our first meeting in September.

 

 

CIFST website and LinkedIn page

Please visit our website for more updated information: https://www.cifst.ca/

In addition to the online community, CIFST has a LinkedIn page, to which you can request access through the link below:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/canadian-institute-of-food-science-and-technology-cifst/

CIFST Student members have a group on LinkedIn. Please use this link to join:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14205272/