NEBRASKA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE - FOOD LAB ISO CHALLENGES Governmental Food and Feed Laboratories Accreditation Meeting “ The Search for Sustainability” Louisville, Kentucky February 4, 2016

NEBRASKA GRANT DETAILS AND SUCCESSES Added 2 FTE (1 QA Manager, 1 Chemist) Remodeled BSL II Lab Purchased VIDAS, Vitek 2, incubators, stomachers, laminar flow hood, etc. Began ISO accreditation process in March 2013 and were accredited in November 2015 All involved attended at least 4 A2LA training classes and Ken Stoub, ISO consultant was utilized Initiated two animal feed recalls and one food (Jeni’s ice cream) Ice cream recall created national publicity due to timing – immediately followed the Blue Bell ice cream outbreak across parts of the south Jeni’s recall met a chief FSMA goal- preventing a foodborne outbreak before it occurs- No resulting human cases from Jeni’s ice cream

FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY? NDA- Likely 100% dependent on FDA funding after September 2017 If not FDA-funded, the Nebraska Legislature would be approached with an “opportunity” to fund the program Grant viewed as an “unfunded federal mandate” by state officials Chances of state funding – very unlikely Loss of grant funds would forfeit 2 FTE’s – Food analysis would transition from 4.5 Chemists/Microbiologists to 2.5 Chemist/Microbiologists With one QA Manager – 1.5 analysts would actually perform lab analysis Maintain Food Program and ISO accreditation????