Dr John Pitt
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Division of Food Science and Technology, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
Honorary Research Fellow at CSIRO Food Science Australia, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
Member of the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology, Honorary Life Member of three scientific societies.
Long interest in the fungi that spoil foods and produce mycotoxins, especially taxonomy, physiology, occurrence and species – mycotoxin associations. Particular taxonomic studies on the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus, and drought tolerant fungi. Investigations on the effects of water activity and other physical factors including temperature, pH and oxygen on the growth of fungi and mycotoxin production. Studies on the production and control of aflatoxins in peanuts and of ochratoxin A in coffee and other foods.
Author, coauthor, editor or coeditor of 12 books and 180 book chapters and papers.