Food Safety Lab
Background
Collecting samples is a critical part of FDA's regulatory activities. FDA's current microbiological testing for produce samples relies on traditional microbiological analyses, which can sometimes extend from days into weeks before confirmation of pathogenic contamination is achieved. New technologies, such as commercial test kits, may shorten the time frame from clearing imported products while increasing coverage of imported commodities. The FDA presently does not use many rapid screening methodologies because they have not been evaluated for regulatory use.
Benefits to FDA of adopting the new methods, all of which could act to facilitate flow of commerce, may be:
- Achievement of faster results thus allowing FDA to clear or reject shipments more quickly.
- Efficient inspection of more shipments entering the U.S.
- Acquisition of more commodity and shipment data for FDA information management systems.
Objective
- Evaluate new test methods for microbiological analyses in various food matrices. Tests will be or has been conducted on perishable food products such as cantaloupes, guacamole, and salad mixes.
- Assess particular test kits for a particular analyte(s) or food commodity before it can be used in the regulatory arena.