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Improved bio-traceability of unintended micro-organisms and their substances in food and feed chains (Biotracer)
Project
Project code: BfR-BIOS-08-1342-442
Contract period: 01.01.2007
- 31.12.2010
Purpose of research: Applied research
The strategic objective of BIOTRACER is to improve traceability of microorganisms (biotraceability) contaminating the food/feed chain (including bottled water), whether accidental or deliberate. Using a total food chain approach, recommendations will developed to control any risk through integration of novel genomic and metabolimic data resulting in a better understanding of the physiology of the microorganisms, combining these with advances in predictive food-based microbiological models. The BIOTRACER Consortium consists of 46 partners, including Europe?s largest food/feed industries, several SMEs, relevant INCO countries and networks. The consortium includes experts in predictive microbiology, database developers, software companies, risk assessors, risk managers, system biologists, food and molecular microbiologists, legislative officers, standardization and validation members and food retailers. The work is planned for 4 years and is organised in 5 Research Areas, including 10 projects. The main result will be the ability to model the development of contamination from the origin (point of entry) to the point of detection, and beyond. Furthermore, it will be the objective to inform the producers about the necessary actions to be taken to protect the consumer. A complete chain approach is proposed, beginning with sampling and ending with recommendations for control measures. The five research areas are:? Research Area 1: Quantitative Food Chain Models, to better understand the fundamental characteristics and dynamics for each chain. ? Research Area 2: Traceability of contaminants in the feed chain, to address issues in entry and persistence of mycotoxin and Salmonella ? Research Area 3: Traceability of pathogens in the meat chain, to understand the impact of processing conditions on the physiology of the organism. ? Research Area 4: Traceability of pathogens in the dairy chain, to develop risk assessment strategies through computational modelling.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Toxicology