Faith Critzer

Interim Department Head and Professor Food Science & Technology

Contact Information fcritzer@uga.edu 706-542-1088

Mailing Address Athens, CAES Campus Food Science and Technology, 100 Cedar Street, room 340, Athens, GA 30602

Shipping Address Athens, CAES Campus

Description of Research Interests

Her team focuses on identifying food safety risks tied to the production and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as identification of and education on risk mitigation strategies. The most recent work from her lab group has focused on Listeria control in the packinghouse; preharvest agricultural water treatment in order to inactivate bacterial foodborne pathogens; and validation of antimicrobials in postharvest flumes using industry-relevant conditions. She also has a passion for communicating science-based best practices and outcomes of research to the produce industry.

Courses Taught

FDST 2050: The Impact of Food on World History and Culture

FDST 4030/6030 and 4030L/6030L: Food Microbiology

FDST 7060E: Microbial Hazards in Food: Assessment and Control

Selected Recent Publications

Raad, R., B. Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, C. Appolon, J. Daniel, T. Coolong, and F. Critzer. 2025. Effect of Synthetic and Fish Emulsion Fertilizers in the Survival and Biofilm Formation of Salmonella in Irrigation Distribution Lines. HortScience 60(10):1842–1850. DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI18809-25. (1¹, 2, 4, 6).

Deniz, A., B. Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, F. Critzer, D.L. Boyle, J. Lacasa, U. Yucel, V. Trinetta. 2025. Formation and Control of Listeria monocytogenes Growth and Accumulation on Food Processing Surfaces in the Fresh Produce Industry. J Food Prot. 88(11):100619. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100619. (2, 3, 6).

Hamilton, A.M., C. Rock, M. Melendez, F. Critzer, M.D. Danyluk, L.K. Strawn. 2025. Industry Reaction and Perceived Barriers to Implementation of the Preharvest Water Requirements (Subpart E) from the United States Food and Drug Administration Produce Safety Rule. Food Prot Trends. 45(6):378–388. DOI: 10.4315/FPT-24-038. (2, 3, 6).

Stewart, S.C., B. Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, F. Critzer, M. Bhullar, L. Nwadike, U. Yucel, V. Trinetta. 2025. Effectiveness of Silver Dihydrogen Citrate (SDC) and Chlorine Dioxide Gas (ClO₂) as Sanitation Strategies for Picking Bags and Storage Bins at Tree Fruit Production Facilities. J Food Prot. 88(11):100611. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100611. (2, 3, 6).

Gao, Z., A. Jha, C.L. Hudson, A.L. Hopper, F.J. Critzer, S.A. Micallef, D.W. Schaffner, R.V. Tikekar. 2025. Efficacy of Sodium Hypochlorite and Peracetic Acid in Reducing Cross‐Contamination During Washing of Baby Spinach at Different Water Quality Levels. J Food Sci. 90(10): e17657. DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17657. (1, 2, 6).

Burnett, A.R., F. Critzer, T. Coolong. 2025. Quantification of Escherichia coli Transfer from Plastic Mulch to Field-Grown Tomatoes and Bell Peppers. J Food Prot. 88(3): 100458. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100458. (1, 2, 3, 4, 6).

Cullinan, S., M. Mahida, R. Raad, K. Ingmundson, A. Bryan, F. Critzer, V. Trinetta, L. Bastos, R. Hardeman, J. Moore, C.L Schwan. 2025. Determining Critical Food Safety Factors for Safely Homebrewing Kombucha: A Study on Microbial Survivability. Food Prot Trends 45(2): 92-102. DOI: 10.4315/FPT-24-009. (3, 6).

Stewart, S., S. Chalamalasetti, B. Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, F. Critzer, M. Bhullar, L. Nwadike, U. Yucel, V. Trinetta. 2025. The Effect of Commercial Sanitizers on Listeria monocytogenes (Planktonic and Biofilm Forms) Experimentally Inoculated Materials Commonly Used During Tree-Fruit Harvesting. 78(4):ovaf056. DOI: 10.1093/lambio/ovaf056. (1, 2, 3, 4, 6).

Etaka, C.A., D.L. Weller, A.M. Hamilton, F. Critzer, L.K. Strawn. 2025. Sanitation Interventions for Reducing Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella on Canvas and Cordura® Harvest Bags. J Food Prot. 88(5): 100472. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100472. (2, 6).

Etaka, C.A., D.L Weller, T. Le, A. Hamilton, F.J. Critzer, L.K. Strawn. 2025. Impact of Material Type and Relative Humidity on the Survival of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica on Harvest Bags. J. Food Prot. 88(5):100471. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100471. (2, 6).

Torres, C.A., R. Mogollon, F. Critzer, B. Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, M. Sanchez-Tamayo, K. Anderson. 2025. Lenticel Breakdown Disorder Development on Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.): A Survey of Water Chemistry during Packaging and the Effect of Sanitizers in the Processing Water. Hort Sci. 60(7):1050-1057. DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI18533-25. (2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Amiri, A., Murphy, C. M., Hoheisel, G. A., Haskell, C. L., Critzer, F. 2024. Efficiency of a non-recycling postharvest fungicide drencher to enhance management of apple decay and food safety. Front Microbiol, 15, 1509368. DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1509368. (1, 2, 4, 6).

Ivers, C., Chalamalasetti, S., Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, B., Critzer, F., Bhullar, M., Nwadike, L., Yucel, U. Trinetta, V. 2024. Evaluation of Commercially Available Sanitizers Efficacy to Control Salmonella (Sessile and Biofilm Forms) on Harvesting Bins and Picking Bags. J Food Prot. 87(12), 100394. DOI:10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100394. (1, 2, 4, 6).

Racine J, A. Nerney, S. Kilgore, T. Waters, F. Critzer, L.J. Harris, S. Reitz, J. Waite-Cusic. 2024. Escherichia coli survival on dry bulb onions treated with crop protection sprays prepared using contaminated water in the Treasure Valley growing region. J Food Prot. 2024 Oct 4:100373. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100373. (1, 2, 6).

Ruiz-Llacsahuanga B., M. Sanchez-Tamayo, G.D. Kumar, F. Critzer. 2024. Comparison of three air samping methods for the quantification of Salmonella, Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), coliforms, and generic E. coli from bioaerosols of cattle and poultry farms. J Food Prot. 87(6):100282. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100282. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Critzer F., A.M. Hamilton, M. Melendez, M.D. Danyluk, L.K Strawn. 2024. Survey of environmental monitoring practices in fresh produce packinghouses. Food Prot Trends. 44(2): 102-110. DOI: 10.4315/FPT-23-022. (1, 2, 3, 5, 6).

Racine J, A. Nerney, S. Kilgore, J. Darner, M. Spets, F. Critzer, L.J. Harris, S. Reitz, T. Waters, J. Waite-Cusic. 2024. Irrigation method matter: contamination and die-off rates of Escherichia coli on dry bulb onions after overhead and drip irriation in Washington state (2022-2023). J Food Prot. 87(9):100326. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100326. (1, 2, 6).

Sanchez-Tamayo, M., B. Ruiz-Llacsahuanga, R. Raad, W. Kerr, F. Critzer. 2024. Inactivation of foodborne pathogens on gala apples by application of antimicrobial waxes. Food Control. 155, 110049. DOI.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2023.110049. (1, 2, 3, 6).

Bakin B., C. McGovern, M. Melendez, C. Kessler, F. Critzer, C. Rock, R. Buchanan, D. Schaffner, M. Danyluk, B. Kowalcyk, K. Morgan, L, Strawn, A. Hamilton. 2023. Ranking Food Safety Priorities of the Fresh Produce Industry in the United States. J. Food Prot. 86(12):100167. DOI.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100167. (2, 6).

Krishnan, A., X. Xu, M. Sanchez Tamayo, A. Mishra,F. Critzer*. 2023. Impact of chlorine and peracetic acid on inactivation of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes in agricultural water. Sci. Total Environ. https://DOI.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163884. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).