Request for Proposals Issued in August on Key Topics

The Foundation issued its 2018-2019 Request for Proposals in August.  Proposals were solicited on the following topics:

Food Safety

• Use whole genome sequencing and other emerging technologies to evaluate the genetic factors allowing bacterial pathogens (STEC, Salmonella and/or Listeria) to live and thrive in processing environments, on food contact surfaces and/or on products.  Research should include how these pathogens survive, and how the environmental and genetic factors influence virulence.
• What factors should you consider when evaluating regulatory whole genome sequenced isolates, e.g. type of pathogen; relatedness of sequences; in plant location of pathogen; potential for harborage or continual reintroduction, what can be learned?, among other factors.
• Identify and validate interventions to inhibit STEC on pork including carcasses, primals, trim and ground product.  Interventions should be approved for use in the U.S.
• Identify and validate interventions and novel application methods to reduce pathogen contamination of beef and pork head or cheek meat.  Interventions should be approved for use in the U.S.
• Identify and validate interventions and novel application methods to reduce pathogen contamination of poultry parts.  Interventions should be approved for use in the U.S.
• Identify and validate antimicrobial interventions to reduce pathogen contamination of beef edible variety meats intended for use in ground products.  Interventions should be approved for use in the U.S. and ideally the major export markets for the specific variety meats.
• Investigate efficient and sustainable application of antimicrobials to reduce pathogens on meat and poultry carcasses as well as primals and parts.  The proposals should evaluate:
  • Water reduction and reuse, specifically efficacy during treatment period;
  • Reuse of antimicrobial treatments, specifically efficacy during “lifespan” of reuse treatment, including decay rate of efficacy; and
  • Type of application--both existing and novel technology.
• Evaluate commonly used antimicrobial interventions at and above current regulatory level of water pick up, e.g. above the 0.49%, to determine if efficacy is improved with usage above the processing aid threshold.

Product Quality

• Evaluate the effect of different interventions alone or in combination with different types of packaging methods on the microbial ecology of different products in relation to storage life, discoloration and product quality.
• Evaluate methods and mitigation strategies to control and measure sporeformers on raw products prior to packaging to minimize or eliminate adverse quality outcomes like discoloration and blown bags.

Nutritional Sciences

• Conduct menu modeling and other analyses to demonstrate that fresh and processed meat and poultry items can be a component of the dietary patterns recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Risk-benefit analysis on the consumption of fresh and processed meat and poultry products as a component of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Proposal reviews are underway.  Research recommended for funding will be presented the Foundation Board of Directors in January 2019.

The article and others are available in the October 2018 Foundation Focus Newsletter