CSREES and Food Safety Research Mary E. Torrence DVM, Ph.D., DACVPM, FACE National Program Leader for Food Safety

I. Miley Gonzalez Under Secretary Eileen Kennedy Deputy Under Secretary Office of the Under Secretary Office of the Under Secretary Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Administrator Floyd Horn Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Administrator Floyd Horn Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) Administrator Colien Hefferan Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) Administrator Colien Hefferan Economic Research Service (ERS) Administrator Susan Offutt Economic Research Service (ERS) Administrator Susan Offutt National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Administrator Donald Bay National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Administrator Donald Bay USDA Global Change Program Office Office of Water Quality National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program Office of REE Advisory Committee Administrative and Financial Management (AFM) Acting Deputy Administrator Wiz Horner Administrative and Financial Management (AFM) Acting Deputy Administrator Wiz Horner U.S. Department of Agriculture Research, Education, and Economics

Funding Opportunities w National Integrated Food Safety Initiative w NRI Epidemiological Approaches for Food Safety w NRI Food Safety (Human Nutrition, Food Safety, and Animal Health) w Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS)

CSREES Food Safety Grants (NRI) 32.1 Epidemiological Approaches for F.S. w 5 awards w Range: $231,000- $1,392,000  Avg: $811, Ensuring F.S w 24 Awards w Range: $60,000 - $310,000 w Avg: $196,5000

32.0 Food Safety w Basic, laboratory- type research with an emphasis on method development w Development of prevention/control strategies and improved detection methods w Identification of obstacles to safe food habits and development of intervention strategies w Approaches to and models for risk assessments

32.1 Epidemiological Approaches for Food Safety w Large, population-type/field studies w Identification of risk factors, sources and reservoirs w Identification and/or assessment of management practices, intervention strategies w Provide data for risk assessments

National Integrated Food Safety Initiative w New integrated program that replaced Special Food Safety Research Grants and Food Safety and Quality National Education Initiative w Awarded around $14 million in 2000 w Proposals due May 14, 2001

2000 Grant Awards w 29 Awards w Range: $285,491 - $600,000

Major Areas of Emphasis w Integration of a research and educational or extension program w Food Safety research areas include risk assessment, control measures, fresh fruits and vegetables, sources and reservoirs w Educational areas include food handler education, HACCP model development, testing, and implementation

Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS) w Proposals were due April 23 w To provide science-based solutions for emerging issues w Areas include agricultural genome, biotechnology, food safety, technology and human nutrition, new uses for agricultural products, natural resources, farm efficiency and profitability.

Funded Research from the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative - Listeria monocytogenes

Minimizing the risk of Listeria monocytogenes and other pathogens in dried foods (J. Sofos, Colorado State Univ., $479,223) w Develop pre-drying treatments and drying processes effective in destroying bacteria w Evaluate the incorporation of antimicrobials for inhibition of contaminants

Control strategies for Listeria monocytogenes in food processing environments ( M. Wiedmann, Cornell Univ., $534,287 ) w Develop, evaluate and deliver science- based outreach programs for improved control strategies w The use of environmental control strategies and sanitation procedures to reduce Listeria

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms by plasma-deposited antibacterial layers ( A. Wong, Univ. of Wisconsin, $285,491 ) w To use plasma-aided technologies to develop antibacterial surfaces to inhibit biofilm formation

1999 NRI Awards - w Genetic markers and pathogenesis features of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b (S. Kathariou, Univ of Hawaii, $222,000) w A membrane fluidity model for sensitivity of foodborne pathogens to preservatives (T. Montville, Rutgers Univ., $230,405) w Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in food systems (M. Wiedmann, Cornell U., $192,000)

NRI continued….. w Molecular mechanisms of psychotropy in Listeria monocytogenes ( B. Wilkinson, Illinois State U., $253,000) w Listeria monocytogenes: ozone inactivation (S. Martin, Univ of Ill., $95,000)

Special Research Grants w Post-process Pasteurization of Packaged, RTE Meat Products for Control of Listeria monocytogenes (H. Thippareddi, Kansas State U, $124,026)

Characterization of Antimicrobials and Risk Assessment of Listeria monocytogenes on Hot Dogs (J. Sebranek, Iowa State Univ., $275,000) w Exploratory Phase- Sodium diacetate; sodium diacetate/sodium lactate/potassium benzoate; sodium diacetate/potassium benzoate w Comprehensive Phase- 3%, 6% solutions; 5 temperatures

Quantitation of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE foods and Risk Assessment (D. Gombas, NFPA Research Foundation, $340,000) w Preliminary findings- 1% prevalence in luncheon meats; 2% prevalence in prepared salads; low counts w Next steps- compare subtypes with human outbreaks; survey 5 other product categories