News and Media

A burger with fries

McDonald’s E. coli outbreak now has 75 people sick in the U.S. How can onions, other foods get contaminated and give food poisoning?

McDonald’s E. coli outbreak now has 75 people sick in the U.S. How can onions, other foods get contaminated and give food poisoning? October 26, 2024 Dr. Siyun Wang, a professor of food safety engineering, underscores the risks of consuming raw vegetables, which can harbor harmful bacteria like E. coli. Contamination can occur through various […]
A car sinking in water

How can B.C. protect itself from the next atmospheric river?

How can B.C. protect itself from the next atmospheric river? October 22, 2024 Dr. Kai Chan, a professor at UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, advocates for a more nature-based approach to stormwater management. Instead of relying solely on human-made infrastructure like storm drains and pipes, Chan suggests rerouting water through ecosystems. He emphasizes […]
Magazine cover with a plate containing a fish, apple, egg, toast, carrots, figs, and olives

Bacteria, viruses and mold, oh my! How foods make us sick and how to avoid it

Bacteria, viruses and mold, oh my! How foods make us sick and how to avoid it November 2, 2024 In The Ubyssey’s Food for Thought edition, Dr. Siyun Wang, a professor of food safety engineering, offers essential insights into how foodborne illnesses occur and how to prevent them. She emphasizes that the real danger isn’t […]
A hand holding a bat

The secret lives of Vancouver’s ‘invisible mammals’ — and the race to save them

The secret lives of Vancouver’s ‘invisible mammals’ — and the race to save them October 30, 2024 Dr.Siyun Wang, a professor of food safety engineering, underscores the risks of consuming raw vegetables, which can harbor harmful bacteria like E. coli. Contamination can occur through various channels, including polluted irrigation water, cross-contamination during handling, or contact […]
Illustration of a large bee climbing onto Vancouver's Science World

Introduced bumble bee species thrives, causing concern about native pollinators in Lower Mainland

Introduced bumble bee species thrives, causing concern about native pollinators in Lower Mainland October 8, 2024 Recent research from UBC’s Plant-Pollinator and Global Change (PPGC) Lab revealed notable decreases in the local western bumble bee population, with a non-native species dominating the area. The common eastern bumble bee — or Bombus impatiens — was first […]
Child grabbing a cracker from a lunch box that contains chicken, fruits, and snacks.

‘So much mental load’: Mothers speak about school lunches

‘So much mental load’: Mothers speak about school lunches September 11, 2024 CSFS Associate and land and food systems professor Dr. Jennifer Black and alum Seri Niimi-Burch wrote about their study on mothers’ experiences with packing school lunches. “These mothers taught us about the complex physical, mental and emotional work needed to provide a “good” […]
Silk and Great Value plant-based beverage cartons

Silk, Great Value plant-based beverages recalled across Canada

Silk, Great Value plant-based beverages recalled across Canada July 16, 2024 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled a selection of plant-based drinks after discovering they could be contaminated with listeria. CSFS Associate and Land and food systems professor Dr. Siyun Wang said while listeria isn’t as common as other food-borne bacteria like salmonella […]
LFS Reach Out is out!

LFS Reach Out is out!

LFS Reach Out is out! June 11, 2024 Many of our CSFS Associates and the CSFS Strategic Plan are featured in this issue of the LFS Faculty magazine! Dean’s Message – Rickey’s last! Studying Pollinators on the Frontlines of Resiliency with Risa Sargent Drought Solutions for Producers Start Small with Thorsten Knipfer Building Resilience: The […]
Wild rose in the foreground with a farm field and hoop houses in the background

How to save the world in five not so easy steps

How to save the world in five not so easy steps June 11, 2024 CSFS Associate Dr. Kai Chan wrote that individuals should demand that systems change towards sustainability, and not depend on governments in the fight against climate change. Chan outlines five essential steps for this transformation: Go Deep: Focus on long-term sustainability over […]
A shopper walks past the milk and dairy display while pushing a Target cart.

Federal tests find no signs of bird flu virus in Canadian retail milk

Federal tests find no signs of bird flu virus in Canadian retail milk June 3, 2024 Canadian monitoring is underway as the U.S. grapples with an unprecedented outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cattle. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) laboratories have tested 142 retail milk samples from across all 10 provinces, the agency said. […]