Bassam Annous
Research Microbiologist at the USDA-ARS-ERRC
American University Beirut
Beirut, USA
Biography
Dr. Bassam Annous is a Research Microbiologist at the USDA-ARS-ERRC, in Wyndmoor, PA; earned B.S. and M.S. from the American University of Beirut, and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois; 36+ years of research experience in the areas of microbial food safety, food science and engineering, food packaging, and microbial physiology and biotechnology; has extensive experience working on chlorine dioxide gas and thermal treatments for decontaminating fresh and fresh-cut produce; developed and validated novel thermal and non-thermal surface pasteurization technologies capable of reaching and inactivating human pathogens attached to inaccessible sites within biofilms on produce surfaces; has transferred thermal technology to industry; has authored/co-authored 70+ peer-reviewed publications, review articles, and book chapters; presented 90+ invited talks at national and international meetings and universities in USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, Dubai, and Mexico; served as an expert panellist on four FAO-WHO panels on Food Safety and Security; currently working with the U.N. Development Program on developing food safety guidance for the Lebanese food industry.
Research Interest
Microbial food safety, food science and engineering, food packaging, and microbial physiology and biotechnology