Date & Time
March 18, 2026
12 pm to 1 pm
Location
Online
This presentation offers a practical approach for turning hazard identification into meaningful risk management. It highlights how real microbial data and predictive microbiology tools can strengthen hazard analysis, improve interpretation of environmental monitoring results, and support science-based decisions. Case studies and examples from biomapping, formulation changes, emerging pathogens, and non-pathogen testing are used to show how hazards translate into real risk under processing and handling conditions. Drawing from meat, poultry, and ready-to-eat food research, the session helps inspectors and industry professionals use data to better assess risk and prioritize food safety actions.
Webinar Lead By
Ellen Gravi
Meet Our Experts
The State University of New Jersey | Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
Byron D. Chaves, PhD.
Byron Chaves is an Associate Professor and Food Safety Extension Specialist at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. His research integrates microbiology, food processing, and statistical tools to assess and manage risks from pathogenic bacteria and viruses in foods and on food-contact surfaces. His Extension programs deliver training and technical assistance to industry on food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance, including hazard analysis, environmental monitoring, and product and process validations. He serves as the HACCP State Coordinator and is a former member of the USDA FSIS National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection. He earned a PhD from Texas Tech University, an MS from Clemson University, and a BS from the University of Costa Rica. Byron joined Rutgers on March 1 after 8.5 years as a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Event Details
Date & Time
March 18, 2026
12 pm to 1 pm
Location
Online
