Professional Master of Science in Food Safety Degree Program

Dr. A. Mahdi Saeed, a Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health in the departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Epidemiology has been making a lot of news lately with his discovery of a working vaccine for E coli diarrheal diseases. However, he has been outstanding in teaching and conducting research on infectious diseases and food safety for the past 24 years.

Since the inception of the MS in Food Safety Program eight years ago, Dr. Saeed has taught LCS/EPI 830, which he also designed (see overview below). During the revising of the new protocols for prevention and control of salmonella and avian influenza, he also worked as a consultant to the USDA and FSIS. To learn more regarding Dr. Saeed's academic career click here.

LCS/EPI 830: Food Safety Epidemiology (Public Health Impact and Risk Assessment of Foodborne Diseases) 3. Cr. Fall Semester

Course Overview: An epidemiologic survey of important emerging and reemerging foodborne diseases including their biological, chemical and physical etiological spectrum and their sequelae. Role of epidemiology in the study of foodborne diseases, measurement of commonality of foodborne diseases using rates, proportions and prevalence.

Principles of outbreak investigation of foodborne diseases with a training-exercise. Role of consumer’s behavior and modeling of the consumer’s risk for foodborne diseases. Tracking of foodborne pathogens from farm to table and introduction to HACCP approach in the control of foodborne diseases. Risk assessment of foodborne diseases; identification; assessment; management; and communication of the public health risks associated with foodborne hazards.