Discipline C: Radiochemisty, Analytical Track 1: Food Defense

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Project Summary/Abstract - Discipline C: Radiochemistry Analytical Track 1: Food Defense The State Hygienic Laboratory’s (SHL) participation in this project contributes to the overall objective of the grant by maintaining and enhancing the capacity and capabilities of SHL to respond to foodborne radiological threats as part of an integrated food safety system. This project will strengthen and improve the collaboration on surveillance testing activities between the FDA and SHL, and contributes to building a nationally integrated laboratory science system, while increasing national food testing capacity for radiological threats. The specific aims of this project are to: 1. Conduct surveillance testing on 50 juice samples for gamma-emitting radionuclides. 2. Conduct gross alpha screening testing on 25 juice samples for alpha particle emissions. 3. Participate in FDA-requested triage exercises, and/or surveillance activities to support and maintain readiness. 4. Participate in national security event exercises, as available. 5. Maintain preparedness to rapidly respond to a suspected or confirmed intentional contamination event involving human food. This includes maintaining instruments and facilities, stocking reagents and supplies for emergencies, and training staff to perform analyses. SHL will collect juice samples and, during the first six months of the grant period, will analyze 25 samples for gamma-emitting radionuclides. In a concurrent project, SHL will also be implementing microwave digestion to improve its capacity to rapidly screen samples for alpha emitters. In the final six months of the grant period SHL will collect and analyze 25 juice samples for gamma-emitting radionuclides and screen these samples for alpha particles. This project is also be beneficial to SHL by improving its capability and capacity to analyze juice (and by extension, other sugary products), providing training opportunities for staff in radiological food analysis, and working on various processes with Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals, including sample collection and chain of custody, which are crucial during foodborne threat events.