Bioterrorism and threats to food supply will be the topic of a lecture by John Rupnow, professor of food science and technology at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Thursday, Nov. 13, at 11 a.m. in 456 Martin Building at Brigham Young University.
Biological disease agents have long been used as weapons, even before scientists knew how germs spread illness, Rupnow said. Bioterrorism has progressed from catapulting plague-infested corpses behind castle walls to modern methods of infecting large numbers of people with smallpox, botulism or even plague. However, human health is not the only concern.
Many take the safety of their food supply for granted, yet tremendous vulnerability exists both in terms of crop and livestock safety. This new “agroterrorism” threatens not only human health but also the stability of our economy, Rupnow said.
An Institute of Food Technologists distinguished lecturer, Rupnow teaches courses in food science, safety and toxicology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
For more information, contact Tory Parker, chair of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, at (801) 422-6670 or michael_dunn@byu.edu.
Writer: Brady Toone
