Gary Smith

Gary Smith, PhD

Born and raised in Caddo County, Oklahoma, Dr. Gary Smith attended universities in California, Washington and Texas. Since 1961, he has taught and conducted research at Washington State University (WSU), Texas A&M University, and Colorado State University (CSU).

From 1916 to 1975, his research focused on beef palatability (bullocks vs. steers, carcass chilling effects on tenderness, blade tenderization, electrical stimulation of carcasses, Tenderstretch®); beef shelf life (vacuum packaging for domestic and transoceanic shipments, retail case life); and USDA Feeder Cattle Grade Standards From 1975 to 1990, his research efforts included modified atmosphere packaging of beef; transoceanic shipments of variety meats; USDA Beef Quality and Yield Grade Standards; time-on-feed and beef palatability; The Hamburger Steer®; breed types and beef palatability; beef lipids and human nutrition; National Consumer Retail beef Study; and restructured beef steaks.

From 1990 to 2015, his research focused on chemical residues in US beef; National Beef Quality Audits; International Beef Quality Audit; National Market Cow and Bull Audits; injection site lesions; Conventional, Natural, and Organic Beef; feeding Vitamin E and Beef retail case life; “Multiple-Hurdle E. coli 0157:H7 decontamination systems; implementation of HACCP programs in beef packing plants; Palatability Assurance Critical Control points; controlling Salmonella and Listeria on ready-to-eat beef; Best Practices for mitigating BSE (Mad Cow Disease) risk in packing plants; traceability systems implementation; and instrument grading of beef carcasses. Dr. Smith credits his success to colleagues and graduate students (who did the hard work) and the help of cattle feeders, packers, and retailers (who allowed them to use their facilities and products).

Dr. Smith occupied the Ken and Myra Monfort Endowed Shair in Meat Science at CSU beginning in June of 1990. Previously, he served as Professor (1969-1982) and Head (1982-1990) of the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M where he received many awards.

Outstanding Teaching Performance Award,
Honor Professor Award
College of Agriculture Teaching Award
University Distinguished Teaching award
Deputy Chancellor’s Award for Team Research

Other awards and honors include:

International Stockmen’s Hall of Fame Induction
National Cattlemen’s Foundation Vision Award
USMEF Distinguished Service Award
AMSA R.C Pollock Award
Beefmaster Breeders United, Commitment to Excellence Award
Honored Researcher of the CSU Research Foundation
ISI Thomson Scientific’s Highly Cited Researcher
Beef Magazine’s top 40 Most Influential People in the US Beef Industry
American Hereford Association Hall of Merit Induction
Meat Industry Hall of Fame Induction
AMSA Mentor Award
Cattle Feeder’s Hall of Fame Award
College of the Sequoias, California State University-Fresno and WSU Distinguished Alumni Award
Certified Angus Beef Industry Achievement Award

Below are resources from Dr. Smith:

Webinar: How long is too long? Determining time and temperature controls for safety in food handling and batching

In this on-demand webinar, you will learn how to assess your microbiological food safety hazards related to these holding steps and determine if pathogen growth and/or toxin production may occur. We will discuss several case studies as well as different strategies you may employ to address these identified risks. Original airdate October 11, 2023.

Keywords: Webinar Microbiology Food Beverages AdvancedFoodMicrobiology

Q&A from the Validation of Thermal Process Applied to Low-Water Activity Foods Webinar

Following the recent webinar titled "Validation of Thermal Processes Applied to Low-Water Activity Foods" experts Shirin Abd and Dr. Wilfredo Ocasio answered some frequently asked questions.

Keywords: Blog Microbiology Food AdvancedFoodMicrobiology

Thermal Process Validation for Low Water Activity Food

Pathogenic organisms, like Salmonella and E. coli, can grow in low water activity foods, leading to foodborne illness outbreaks. Thermal processes inhibit microbial growth and ensure only safe ingredients and products reach the shelves. Thermal processes must be validated to make sure they fully prevent pathogen growth. This blog outlines what foods may need an LWAF thermal process, what a validation study looks like, and the results the experts at Eurofins provide.

Keywords: Blog Food Microbiology Regulatory AdvancedFoodMicrobiology

Webinar: Validation of Thermal Processes Applied to Low-Water Activity Foods

This webinar outlines the concept, design and execution of appropriate validation strategies and procedures intended to mitigate microbiological hazards in Low-Water Activity Foods. In the context of FDA regulations, low-water activity foods (LWAF) are those products with a water activity (aw) of less than 0.85. For many decades, these products were believed to present a low microbiological hazard risk. Various food related illness outbreaks, starting with a massive outbreak of salmonellosis due to peanut butter consumption in 2008-2009, raised awareness of the risk resulting from extended survival of pathogens in these products even in the absence of active growth. Original airdate August 23, 2022.

Keywords: Webinar Food Nutrition Microbiology AdvancedFoodMicrobiology

Food Processing for Safety: What is High-Pressure Processing (HPP)?

High-Pressure Processing is a food processing technology that enables food safety while maintaining food quality. Learn how this high-pressure technology contributes to food science and testing to help support HPP processing and HPP food safety.

Keywords: Blog Microbiology Shelf Life Food Beverages AdvancedFoodMicrobiology

Use of Microbial Surrogates in Validation of Aseptic Fillers webinar

Validation of aseptic fillers intended for the production of low-acid, shelf-stable products is a core requirement of the FDA’s low-acid canned food (LACF) regulations (21CFR113 and 108.35). Microbiological challenges of the aseptic zone and packaging material sterilization cycles are important components of the validation process. These challenges are often conducted at the production site using non-pathogenic surrogate organisms that mimic the resistance of the pertinent target pathogen. This presentation will provide a brief history of the use of such surrogates for the validation of low-acid aseptic fillers along with the approach we have used to qualify the surrogates as adequate for the intended technology.”

Keywords: Webinar Microbiology Aseptic Fillers WOcasio Food AdvancedFoodMicrobiology

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