Track 1 Micro - Food Defense

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Discipline A: Microbiology Analytical Track 1: Food Defense Project Summary/Abstract: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety Laboratories achieved accreditation in 2007 and maintains A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for the specific tests listed in A2LA certificates 2534.01, 2534.02 and 2534.03 (available at www.A2LA.org). The Division has the responsibility for carrying out its duties or support functions as directed by the following Florida Statutes Chapters: 500, 502, 583, 586, and 601. The Division of Food Safety is directly responsible for assuring the public of a safe, wholesome and properly represented food supply. This is accomplished through the permitting and inspection of food establishments; inspection and evaluation of food and dairy products; and the performance of biological and chemical laboratory testing on a variety of food and food related products and dairy. As part of the FERN Microbiology CAP program, the Biology Section (DFS- Bio) is tasked with both response to national food emergencies and routine food surveillance as directed by FERN NPO. To accomplish this mission, the DFS-Bio employs a wide variety of cutting-edge technologies to screen and confirm Microbiological contaminants in food products. The Division of Food Safety Laboratories are applying for the Funding Opportunity titled: Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM), announcement number PAR-20-105, with anticipation of funding from 2020 through 2025 for enhancing the capacity and capabilities of food defense in the area of Microbiology. The Laboratories are currently funded under the Florida Microbiology and Chemistry FDA FERN Program, 2015 – 2020 (5U18FD005506-05). The DFS- Bio Microbiology program has been an active funded laboratory since the inception on FERN microbiology program in 2004 and has participated in food emergency activation for both numerous events including the 2012 Republican and Democratic National Convention Surveillance Pilot, and in 2020, surveillance sampling events surrounding Super Bowl LIV in Miami, FL. The laboratory has also participated in numerous proficiency tests for both food defense and general testing, high throughput exercises, and routine surveillance testing. The Division of Food Safety Laboratories are willing and able to participate in this opportunity and are fully committed to increase the analytical capability and capacity of our nation’s food testing laboratories so as to protect the nation’s food supply through food defense and surveillance activities, and thereby work toward ensuring the public’s health.