Research

ONGOING RESEARCH

Update on Tuesday, September 1, 2015

This research will explore the concept of "internalized" Salmonella contamination in ground poultry components and the role of lymphoid tissue as harborage sites for this pathogen.

Update on Tuesday, September 1, 2015

This research intends to develop a reliable and quantitative method that can measure the impact of interventions designed to reduce the carriage of Salmonella in peripheral lymph nodes of cattle.

Funded in part by The Beef Checkoff

Update on Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The project is designed to provide a better understanding and address the lack of scientifically-supported tools available to the industry to define lethal cooking processes and establish validated regulatory compliance for different ready-to-eat meat products.  

Update on Tuesday, April 1, 2014

This project will evaluate the effectiveness of partial dehairing from various solutions and mechanical scraping as a hide-on carcass intervention to reduce Salmonella and E. coli.

Update on Tuesday, April 1, 2014

This project will demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of droplet digital PCR as an enumeration assay for Salmonella enterica in pure culture and in mixed microflora cultures as well as inoculated ground beef of different fat contents

Update on Tuesday, April 1, 2014

This project will determine if food animal isolates of the top ten Salmonella serovars associated with human infections are resistant to chemical antimicrobial interventions used in processing. The resistance elements associated with human infections will be compared to those found in animals to determine if some chemical interventions used during processing may be selecting for the serovars that most often cause human infections

Update on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The project will evaluate control strategies for Listeria monocytogenes in retail delis identified as having a higher risk of L. monocytogenes prevalence and persistence. Project is co-sponsored by the Food Marketing Institute Foundation.

Update on Tuesday, November 1, 2011

This research will determine if bacterivorous protozoa contribute to shaping bacterial communities in food processing plants and influence the survival of Listeria monocytogenes in floor drains. The proposed project is designed to identify Listeria-lytic protozoa and isolate them for further research in the use of naturally decontaminating floor drains.

COMPLETED RESEARCH

Final report submitted on Tuesday, February 1, 2000

This project conducted a national survey of temperatures of processed meat products at retail and upon arrival at home, after shopping. Data from this study was used in the FDA/USDA Risk Assessment for Listeria monocytogenes.

Final report submitted on Tuesday, August 1, 2000

This study determined what were the most reliable methods for detection of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in RTE products and if RTE meat products could be composited into analytical units greater than 25g as a means of reducing the labor and cost.