In this section:
Capability Profiles
The Food Safety Research Program provides specialist risk assessment and food safety research capability applicable to all commodities and industry sectors. The program aims to underpin public health and the economic development of agri-food industries by providing R&D platforms for:
- Food Safety
- Product Integrity and Market Access
- Food Innovation
- Risk Management
Overview of Food Safety Capabilities, Technical Outputs and Industry Outcomes
| Risk Profiling |
Identification of hazards across the supply chain and ranking of hazard:product combinations in terms of risk. Upgrading of risk profiling tools. Projects undertaken for national red meat (Meat & Livestock Association - MLA) and egg industries (Australian Egg Corporation Ltd - AECL). |
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| Quantitative Risk Assessment |
Use of stochastic modelling and predictive microbiology to develop quantitative risk assessment models. Project undertaken for Salmonella:eggs (AECL). |
| Food Chain Statistical Services |
Provision of statistical services to assist industry and government. Areas of expertise include acceptance sampling, market surveillance, statistical process control, experimental design for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and process validation, and training to build in-house capability. |
| Standards Setting and Regulatory Affairs |
Provision of data for consumer intake modelling to support advisory statements and standards development (Food Standards Australia New Zealand - FSANZ) and development of pre-harvest food safety systems for pork and red meat (APL, MLA). |
| Market Failure | Risk-based assessments where industries/sectors are insufficiently organised to fund tactical food safety research. Projects completed for cockles, game meat, scallops and unpasteurised goat milk. |
| Market Access/Value-Adding | Evaluation of the food safety impact of new production systems in relation to existing standards and levels of competitors (Aquafin Cooperative Research Centre and APL). |
| Export Market Requirements/Product Integrity |
Scoping market specifications for sampling, testing methods and maximum residue levels in key export markets. Project underway to establish and maintain a web-based service for seafood and aquaculture industries (Seafood Services Australia - SSA/Fisheries Research and Development Council - FRDC). |
| Industry Benchmarking | Provision of robust baseline studies to assist export market access negotiations and identify areas for improvement for pork (APL), game meat, chicken meat, prawns (FRDC), Tuna (Aquafin Cooperative Research Centre) and Yellowtail Kingfish (FRDC). |
| Food Processing Performance | Evaluation of food processing procedures and validation of food safety interventions. Projects completed for pork (APL), prawns (FRDC) and chicken meat. |
| Shelf Life and Cool Chain Management | Mapping the impact of processing and time:temperature management of product on shelf life. Projects completed for pork (APL) and prawns (FRDC). |
| Risk Factor Determination |
Evaluate the impact of preslaughter and dressing procedures on carcase hygiene and hazard levels. Projects completed for APL and MLA. |
| Predictive Models |
Develop predictive models for foodborne hazards. Projects completed for eggs (AECL) and Southern Bluefin Tuna (Aquafin CRC). |
