Food Standards Agency
Saturday 4 July 2009
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Listen to this siteDetails of the Agency-funded verocytoxin-producing E. coli research programme.
The overall aim of this programme is to develop and validate standard methods for the detection and characterisation of verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) and their toxins in foods. These methods should be robust and suitable for use in surveillance programmes.
This research will assist the Agency to base its decisions on the best available scientific evidence and in meeting its target of reducing the incidence of food poisoning by 20% by April 2006.
VTEC is an important human pathogen and strains belonging to serotype O157 have been predominantly associated with many outbreaks of haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome, two potentially life-threatening conditions. There are currently seven projects in programme B11 and the research covers the detection of VTEC strains and the virulence and pathogenicity of the organism. Some of the research stems from recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food in its Report on Verocytotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli , published in 1995.
Microbiological methods currently used in the food industry for the detection of VTEC are of limited reliability and are relatively slow in producing results (some methods take several days). Reliability is significantly affected by the efficiency of the detachment and separation of the organism from the food matrix and by the sensitivity and selectivity of the detection method in accurately signalling the presence of the target organism. Although reducing the time taken for results to be available is a desirable goal, it is the reliability of the results obtained which is of primary importance.
The development of validated standard VTEC methods are needed to enable the food industry to inform food hazard management systems, to support enforcement authorities and to facilitate the identification and tracing of organisms causing illness.
Outputs from this programme of research will provide the Food Standards Agency with real-time reliable information to support policy objectives of ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply.
Name
: David Alexander
Tel
: 020 7276 8949
Email
:
david.alexander@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Details of the Agency-funded projects under the verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) research programme (B11).
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