Faith Critzer

Faith Critzer is a Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator in the Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES). Her research focuses on food safety risks in fresh produce, particularly mitigating Listeria and Salmonella contamination in fruit and vegetable production. She leads projects on antimicrobial treatments for postharvest flumes, preharvest water sanitation, and packinghouse hygiene protocols. With over 5,000 annual outreach hours, she bridges research outcomes with industry best practices.

She teaches courses such as Food Microbiology, Food Safety Regulations, and Microbial Hazards in Food. Her work emphasizes practical solutions for the produce industry, including innovative antimicrobial coatings and rapid testing methods. Key research themes include pathogen persistence in controlled environments, fly-mediated contamination pathways, and the efficacy of natural sanitizers like essential oils.

Her publications span 20+ peer-reviewed articles since 2013, addressing topics like Listeria prevalence in packinghouses, transcriptomic responses to sanitizers, and microbial community analysis on apple surfaces. While no specific awards are listed, her contributions reflect significant industry collaboration and educational impact.