Safety: research programme

Effective control of viruses in the food manufacturing industry

Campden BRI project 147082 (Jan 2019 - Dec 2021)
Member funded

There is a requirement for the food industry to have effective control measures for viruses. Of importance is the assessment/validation of antimicrobial treatments against viruses. Selection of the correct surrogates for validation of food control measures is also important. The project will investigate the effect of product composition on survival and inactivation of various surrogates. The effects of processing and fresh produce decontamination technologies combined with ongoing storage will also be assessed. This project will provide members with data on the effect of product composition, processing and storage on the survival and inactivation of various surrogates.

Annette Sansom
+44(0)1386 842263
annette.sansom@campdenbri.co.uk

Cleaning and disinfection of food factories: a revised practical guide

Campden BRI project 147083 (Jan 2019 - Dec 2019)
Member funded

Since Guideline 55 was published by Campden BRI in 2008 a number of changes have been made in the management of hygiene in food production. For example, in the US (under the Food Safety Modernization Act), new controls have been introduced concerning sanitation; BRC v8 has requirements concerning cleaning (both microbiological and allergens); and cleaning is included as an integral part of the food safety management system in the Codex Alimentarius. In addition, new cleaning chemicals and techniques have become available. This has also been coupled with the production of different product types, equipment and methods. This project will provide members with updated guidance on cleaning and disinfection in the manufacturing process based on practical case studies.

Phil Voysey
+44(0)1386 842069
phil.voysey@campdenbri.co.uk

Next generation methods for microbiological and chemical food safety

Campden BRI project 144029 (Jan 2018 – Dec 2020)
Member funded

Advances in analytical technologies have resulted in continued development of faster, more efficient analytical methods. These allow us either to test more rapidly, with more certainty, or to test for hazards that we have previously not been able to detect. Such methods often come with little real world information or validation data. This project enables a very rapid response to be made to a need for new tests (when a new hazard emerges), or to quickly provide useful information on the practicality of new test systems coming onto the market. The project will assess next generation technologies in microbiological and chemical analysis, enabling access to rapid effective monitoring of food hazards and spoilage issues through novel/improved testing protocols.

Suzanne Jordan
+44(0)1386 842013
suzanne.jordan@campdenbri.co.uk

Rapid methods for hygiene determination

Campden BRI project 144027 (Jan 2018 – Dec 2019)
Member funded

Many rapid hygiene test systems are already on the market but limited independent assessment has been carried out to understand their capability and suitability to different environments, contaminant types and production technologies. Systems with the potential for providing an array of real-time information are also starting to appear, some of them not fully explored yet. Examples include rapid microbial indication, allergen surface residue, DNA detection methods and sensor technologies as ways to indicate or control contamination.

The research will look mostly at microbiological and nonmicrobiological methodology for identifying hazards present and compare these with known and validated methods that are currently used but take longer. The project will provide members with factual information on how well different rapid methods for testing cleanliness work in real industrial situations.

Anna Falowska
+44(0)1386 842271
anna.falowska@campdenbri.co.uk

Food safety and traceability using protein profiling

Campden BRI project 140913 (Jan 2017 – Dec 2019)
Member funded

Mass spectrometry is widely used in pharmaceutical and food applications, the latter including complex matrices. Proteins and their peptide derivatives are responsible for food allergy, food functionality, nutritional properties (e.g. satiety) and food structure. They can also be used for ‘fingerprinting’ of foods. The approach could lead to reliable food safety applications, food fraud control, enhanced product development and efficient nutritional applications. This project will develop confirmatory methods for food allergen testing and the detection of the allergen source, multi-allergen testing methods, and protocols for handling difficult matrices in allergen testing and for the detection and the quantification of selected peptides/proteins.

Helen Brown
+44(0)1386 842016
helen.brown@campdenbri.co.uk

BirdEase: an integrated diagnostic system for bacterial detection in poultry farms

Campden BRI project 140724
A collaborative project funded by Innovate UK

The BirdEase Project is developing an acousto-optic sensor system for use on farm to detect bacterial activity. Early indications are that the system can successfully discriminate between the important species of concern. However, it remains to be seen if different strains can be detected and identified. A prototype machine is being designed to accept contaminated boot covers on farm and output a report on the level and type of bacteria found in the sample. The system will include remote access for data collection, software upgrades and technical support.

Jeremy Davies
+44(0)1386 842255
jeremy.davies@campdenbri.co.uk

PouLLS: environmental indicator and animal welfare monitoring sensory system

Campden BRI project 137937
A collaborative project funded by Innovate UK

Poultry Livestock Sensor System (PouLSS) is a collaborative research and development project with the ambitious aim of creating an integrated platform that measures the environmental and welfare parameters in real-time and provides predictive algorithms that enable global broiler producers to: improve productivity by identifying early warning signs and possible farm management intervention; demonstrate welfare standards have been satisfied; and benchmark houses, farms and sites globally identifying improvements and best practice.

The research is showing very positive results in relating distressed calls to both individual growth rate and the impact on neighbouring birds in a flock.

Jeremy Davies
+44(0)1386 842255
jeremy.davies@campdenbri.co.uk