Federal Food Safety Research. Current Programs and Future Priorities: An211 Inventory of Publicly Supported Food Safety Research

摘要

This report provides an inventory of food safety research supported by USDA,211u001eDHHS, and EPA and identifies priorities for further investment by the federal 211u001egovernment. In accord with the primary thrust of the President's Food Safety 211u001eInitiative, the first version of the multi-agency inventory is limited to 211u001eresearch related to foodborne microbial hazards. The analysis contained in this 211u001ereport will contribute to the planning activities of the Joint Institue for Food 211u001eSafety Research (JIFSR). USDA and DHHS spending in FY 1998 for food safety 211u001eresearch was $63.6 million and $106.6 million, respectively. EPA spending in FY 211u001e1998 for research on microbial pathogens in water that may be used in food 211u001eproduction or food processing was $5.2 million. The allocation of current year 211u001efunds (FY 1999) to specific program objectives and categories has not been 211u001ecompleted as of the time of the writing of this report. However, it is noted that 211u001ethe FY 1999 appropriations provided increases for food safety research in USDA 211u001e($26.4 million) and DHHS ($10.3 million) as well as a slight increase in EPA's 211u001emicrobial pathogens in water research ($0.7 million). The President's budget for 211u001eFY 2000 proposes additional food safety research spending for USDA ($22.3 211u001emillion) and DHHS ($6.2 million). The report identifies ongoing and projected 211u001eresearch activities in eight general categories: detection of foodborne hazards; 211u001econtrol of foodborne hazards; pathogenicity of foodborne hazards; drug resistance 211u001eof foodborne microbes; epidemiology of food-associated organisms; risk assessment 211u001emethods and data; food handling, distribution, and storage; and economic 211u001eanalysis. For each category, the report also identifies needs and opportunities 211u001efor further research related to enhancing the safety of the food supply.