1. Overview of Post-Harvest Food Safety in ARS
James A. Lindsay
National Program Staff
USDA - Agricultural Research Service
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the organizers of the meeting for inviting me to present an outline of current research on Pathogen Detection and Control as it relates to the objectives and perspective of the U.S. Food Safety Initiative. I have divided the presentation into two parts. In the first part I will discuss the rationale for the formation of the Initiative, how it is structured, and what effects it will have on food safety research within the United States.
In the second part I will outline the goals and specific research areas of concern for Detection and Control, giving examples of research priorities and current projects for the ARS, which might suggest areas for cooperative or mutual research between the United States and Canada

2. ARS Food Safety Research Budget 2001 ($M)
Pre-Harvest
Post-Harvest
Pathogen Control
Detection Methods 17.47
Hand/Distr/Stor
Risk Assessment
Antibiotics
Antimicrobials
271 scientists
112 projects coded to NP108
83 100% coded
31 Post Harvest
Pathogen Reduction
Mycotoxins
Residues
Poisonous Plants

3. ARS Food Safety Research Budget 1986 - 2001

4. Goals and Specific Projects Within Post-Harvest Food Safety Program
Develop methods for regulatory, industry and research use
Elucidate ecology of pathogens on foods and within the processing environment
Develop intervention strategies, processing and control technologies to aid regulatory agencies in establishing the basis in regulation for HACCP
Evaluate effect of intervention strategies in foods and on microorganisms
Provide data to carry out risk assessment; develop predictive microbial models; and identify areas where interventions are most critical.
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

5. Impact of Food Safety Program
Means to ensure food supply is safe for consumers; meets foreign, domestic regulatory requirements
More secure and competitive food production systems
Develop effective handling practices /treatments for fresh and minimally processed foods, maintenance beneficial attributes
Provide scientific information for guidance/HACCP programs that effectively control pathogens
Decrease risk of food-borne illness, enhancing public confidence
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

6. Projects Within Post-Harvest Food Safety Program (indirectly/directly)
Projects Within Post-Harvest Food Safety Program (indirectly/directly)? Addressing New Performance Standards for the Production of Processed Meat and Poultry Products Annual Reports of All Projects in Food Safety Program Available at on disc, and in bound form
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

7. Pathogen Reduction Research Budget 1995 – 2001

8. Indirectly Assist: Develop Methods for
Indirectly Assist: Develop Methods for Regulatory, Industry and Research Use
Biosensors processes for detecting pathogenic bacteria in foods (Shu-I Tu)
New technology and systems to detect and prevent microbial food contaminants (Purdue)
Stress responses and virulence expression of bacterial pathogens in food environments (Fratamico)
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

9. Indirectly Assist: Ecology of Pathogens on Foods
Indirectly Assist: Ecology of Pathogens on Foods and Within the Processing Environment
Reduction and control of pathogens associated with food processing surfaces (Arnold)
Adhesion and control of pathogens to and on surfaces: poultry and produce (Mandrell)
Effects of processing treatments on safety and quality of raw and cooked poultry products (Lyon)
New technologies for decontamination of fresh fruit and vegetables containing human pathogens (Sapers and Fett)
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

10. Directly Assist: Through Development of Intervention
Directly Assist: Through Development of Intervention and processing Strategies, Microbial Modeling: Within ARS
Improve microbiological safety and shelf life of food by treatment with ionizing radiation (Thayer)
provided significant data on irradiation to regulatory agencies
hot-dogs and L. monocytogenes
5 log reduction of Lm achieved with 3.6 kGy
Lm sensitivity vs product formulation an issue
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

11. Directly Assist: Through Development of Intervention and Processing Strategies, Microbial Modeling: Within ARS
Development of Intervention Processes to Enhance the Microbiological Safety of Heat Sensitive Foods (Kozempel)
hot-dogs and L. innocua
VSV surface pasteurization 0.3 sec at 138C/3-4 cycles achieved a 5 log reduction, visually unchanged
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

12. Directly Assist: Through Development of Intervention and Processing Strategies, Microbial Modeling: Within ARS
Assurance of Microbiological safety of Thermally Processed Foods (Juneja)
provided significant amount of data used in development of performance standards
assessed effects and interactions of of temperature, pH, salts, fat on inactivation of E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium DT104
established safe cooling rates for cured beef, chicken and pork, defining time/temperature to control C. perfringens
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

13. Directly Assist: Through Development of Intervention and Processing Strategies, Microbial Modeling: Within ARS
New Technologies to improve and Assess Food Safety in Muscle Foods (Solomon and Berry)
previous work on beef patty color and safety
future studies directed towards using shock waves generated by hydrodynamic pressure as an intervention strategy
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

14. Directly Assist: Through Development of Intervention and Processing Strategies, Microbial Modeling: Within ARS
L. monocytogenes and frankfurters “hot-dog study” (Luchansky)
Pathogen Modeling Program (Tamplin)
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

15. Cooperative Research - National Alliance Food Safety
Dose-response of infection following intragastric inoculation of L. monocytogenes in RTE products (U. Wisconsin)
Identification of novel virulence markers in food isolates on L. monocytogenes for rationale design of detection strategies (North Carolina State)
Irradiation and packaging treatments for controlling L. monocytogenes and improving sensory acceptability of RTE turkey roll (Iowa State)
Eliminating L. monocytogenes from packaged RTE poultry products (U. Arkansas)
Comparison of L. monocytogenes virulence in a mouse model for use in risk assessment (CFS - U. Georgia)
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

16. Other Cooperative Research
Institute Food Research, Norwich,UK on pathogen modeling
Universities and Institutions within the EU
Listeria genomics with TIGR
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.

17. ARS has made significant efforts to address issues for FSIS
Summary
ARS has made significant efforts to address issues for FSIS
Agency will continue to provide as much data as possible to FSIS on L. monocytogenes, Salmonella and other pathogens for establishing in regulation food safety performance standards for ready-to-eat foods
Briefly outlining some of the areas of focus with detection and control of pathogens:
in poultry the focus is on the usual suspects, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens, the epidemiology and ecology of these organisms
the use of competitive exclusion cultures such as the defined culture PREEMPT, or cytokine modulation from Larry Stankers groups in Texas, the undefined cultures or yeasts from Norman Sterns group at Athens,
or disease production problems such as osteomyelitis from Gerry Huff in Arkanksas.
I should also include the antimicrobial research under NARMS which is an interagency endeavor involving the USDA agencies ARS, APHIS, and FSIS, the CVM-FDA and CDC.