Experts review UK regulator's research focus
research programme for the year in a bid to ensure these help lower
the presence of food borne pathogens in the supply chain.
This review forms past of a wider evaluation of all its research programmes targeting microbiologicalsafety, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said in announcing the event, to be held over two daysbeginning on 21 March. The programme outline sends a signal to processors about the areas that theFSA plans to target in reducing pathogens.
The programme reviews are intended to provide interested parties with the opportunity to discuss theFSA-funded work and to help identify priorities for the future, the agency stated yesterday.
The review will examine programmes such as ones focused on developing a risk assessment models for the different pathways of infection of VTEC O157and for Listeria monocytogenes in cooked meat and poultry. Other projects study foodborne infectionsin milk and food storage conditions, raw milk analyses methods, the effectiveness of pre-milking teat cleaning regimes, Listeria monocytogenes incheese, and the impact of butter production on growth of Listeria monocytogenes.
The final session will examine the FSA's future research priorities. Earlier this month the FSA said it is currently looking to commission research or survey projects in 12 main areas.
The subject areas include studies on verocytotoxin-producing E coli O157, microbiological risk management, organic wastes and fresh produce, chemical contaminants from food production, data quality and improved method of analysis, meat hygiene, diet and cardiovascular health, nutritional status and function, dietary surveys and nutrients, food choice inequalities, marine microbiology and biotoxins, and radioactivity.
The event in March will include a series of presentations by the project leaders, focussed discussions and opportunities for questions and answers.
Attendance is free. The application deadline is 28 February.
