The Zero Tolerance Paradigm: Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in the Era of Sustainability and Food Waste Reduction

The sixth edition of the FoodYouTrust International Symposium took place on 23–24 April 2026 in the Senate Hall of the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, as part of BIOFEST 2026. The theme, “The Zero Tolerance Paradigm: Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in the Era of Sustainability and Food Waste Reduction”, addressed the control of Listeria monocytogenes in food – from the new EU requirements to practice in production, distribution and the laboratory – in the context of sustainability and food waste reduction. The symposium also hosted the closing conference of the PNRR-C9-I5 project on the Competence Centre for Soil Health and Food Safety.

Download the symposium agenda (PDF, in Romanian)

Day 1 – Thursday, 23 April 2026

• Official opening of BIOFEST 2026 (Radu Voinea Amphitheatre, AN010)
• 1 July 2026. The day Listeria loses its right to an “opinion” and we lose our sleep – Dr. Eng. Alexandru Cîrîc, General Manager, ICA Research & Development; Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, NUST POLITEHNICA Bucharest
• The voice of the authorities – Dr. Ramona Nicoleta Clep, Director General for Food Safety, National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority
• Listeria on the EU radar: lessons from RASFF and other EU authority alerts for the Romanian market – Prof. Dr. habil. Mihaela Begea, Research Director, ICA Research & Development; Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, NUST POLITEHNICA Bucharest
• The importance of the pre-analytical phase in microbiological food safety testing – Dr. Biol. Simona Rotaru, Food&Vet Director, Diamedix Impex
• The path of food science – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Cristian Dima, Dean, Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Dunărea de Jos University of Galați
• Strategies for controlling Listeria monocytogenes and preventing critical-limit exceedances along the distribution–retail–consumption chain – Prof. Dr. Eng. habil. Daniela Borda and Dr. Eng. Corina Neagu, Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Dunărea de Jos University of Galați
• The most common deviations and non-conformities found in IFS Food 8 audits – Ionuț Nache, General Manager, INAQ Consulting
• Technologies of the future in microbiological analysis, research and development: MALDI-TOF MS – Dr. Eng. Bogdan Păcularu, for Shimadzu
• What’s in our food? – Mădălina Iacob, journalist, Observator – Antena 1
• Strategic debate: Consensus for safety – a multi-sector dialogue on the practical challenges of controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Romania – moderated by Dr. Eng. Alexandru Cîrîc

Day 2 – Friday, 24 April 2026

• Listeria monocytogenes in industrial effluents and drainage systems: ecology, persistence and advanced control strategies – Prof. Dr. habil. Cristina Covaliu-Mierlă, Director of the Biotechnical Systems Engineering Doctoral School, NUST POLITEHNICA Bucharest; member of the Romanian Government’s Advisory Council for Sustainable Development
• Wine under the magnifying glass: microbiological challenges and product integrity – Dr. Eng. Mihaela Dana Pop, General Manager, Wine Doctor
• Listeria monocytogenes from the perspective of health risks – Dr. Raluca Mihaela Dîrțu, infectious diseases specialist, “Dr. Victor Babeș” Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases; Scientific Senate of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania
• Invisible safety, visible trust: how active packaging can control Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods – Dr. Lavinia Călinoiu Mureșan, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, USAMV Cluj-Napoca; Scientific Senate of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania
• The architecture of competence: Biotechnical Systems Engineering as a response to new sustainability challenges – Prof. Dr. Eng. habil. Sorin-Ștefan Biriș, Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, NUST POLITEHNICA Bucharest
• Laboratory – competent authority – client: communicating results and the legal implications when Listeria monocytogenes is detected – Cătălina Neague, General Manager, Integra Inspect Consulting
• Regional and national debate and closing conference of the PNRR-C9-I5 project “Setting up and running a Competence Centre for Soil Health and Food Safety” – moderated by Dr. Eng. Irina Aura Istrate, project director

Organisers and partners

Organisers: ICA Research & Development and the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest – Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering. Partners: INAQ Consulting, Shimadzu, Diamedix Diagnostica.