Waste to wealth: Pomelo peel can be used for electricity generation and sensing devices

Pomelo is a large citrus fruit commonly grown in Southeast and East Asia. It has a very thick peel, which is typically discarded, resulting in a considerable amount of food waste. In a new study, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers explore ways to utilize waste pomelo-peel biomass to develop tools that can power small electric devices and monitor biomechanical motions.

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U. of I. team develops weight loss app that tracks fiber, protein content in meals

Many people struggle to maintain a healthy weight, and choosing the optimal meals for weight loss can be challenging. A research team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has developed a weight management program that helps individuals plan meals with the assistance of a web application and support from a registered dietitian. In a new study, they discuss the app’s features, development, and implementation.

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How does alcohol consumption elevate risks of various cancers?

Zeynep Madak-Erdogan is associate director for education at the Cancer Center at Illinois and a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Madak-Erdogan’s research explores the impact of hormones and metabolism on breast cancer and individuals’ responses to treatment.

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Illinois researchers develop model to evaluate food safety control strategies for produce industry

You’ve probably heard of product recalls involving lettuce, spinach, or other leafy greens. Consuming these popular vegetables is among the main causes of food poisoning, affecting thousands of people every year. Leafy greens can become contaminated with pathogenic E. coli or other bacteria through splashes of soil or contaminated irrigation water in the field, or through processing and handling. Growers and processors work hard to implement multiple safety procedures, but contaminated products still slip through the cracks and reach consumers.

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Kemp’s legacy of generosity fuels future leaders in Food Science and Human Nutrition

Albert “Bert” Kemp’s legacy is one of service, hard work, and lasting generosity. He was just one of 25 students in Mahomet Community High School’s Class of 1938, yet he would go on to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he earned his undergraduate degree in dairy science from the Department of Animal Sciences in 1942.

His formative undergraduate education set Bert up for a successful career and the means to one day give back to the institution that gave him his start in life. 

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Study: Innovative light technology is safe, effective for mitigating fungal contamination of cereal grains

Fungal contamination of cereal grains poses a substantial threat to food security and public health while causing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses annually. In a new study, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign evaluated far-ultraviolet C (far-UVC) light as a safe way to alleviate fungal contamination of corn and wheat and found this technology to be effective.

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ACES senior shines in nutrition education and service

During her summer break, Delaina Sigman was handed a protractor, a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a compass. Then she was told to navigate her way through the wilderness. This was just the beginning of Cadet Summer Training, an experience Sigman participated in as a student in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s ROTC program.

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Sharon M. Donovan Pediatric Nutrition Seminar Fund launched to advance children's health

The Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS), housed within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has established the “Sharon M. Donovan Pediatric Nutrition Seminar Fund.” With the inaugural seminar scheduled for the spring of 2026, this annual seminar will serve as a platform for bringing world-renowned experts in pediatric nutrition to campus.

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