CANADIAN AGENCIES FUND GENOMICS PROJECT TO ELIMINATE LISTERIA
Posted in News, Science & Research, International, Food Safety, Meat Products, Processed Meats,Frozen / Refrigerated Foods, Refrigerated Foods, Listeria, Bacteria, Bacteria, Microbial, Laboratory Testing, Food Analysis
OTTAWA—The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Genome Canada and Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions have partnered to support a $1.4 million project that will lead to faster and more cost-effective ways to screen food for the Listeria bacteria and bolster food safety.
The project, led by Dr. Linda Chui of the University of Alberta, will sequence and map the genomes of many Listeria strains to identify those strains that are likely to be most harmful to human health, as well as those most likely to survive in food processing facilities. A database of Listeria genome sequences will be developed and genetic markers identified. The markers will be used to rapidly spot harmfulListeria strains in foods and food processing facilities.
The 18-month research project is supported through an investment of $250,000 each from Genome Canada (via Genome Alberta) and the CFIA, and $100,000 from Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions. This investment is also being leveraged through co-funding from federal, provincial, academic and industry partners, including Maple Leaf Foods, increasing the total investment to $1.4 million.
"The Harper Government is committed to improving Canada's already robust food safety system as outlined in the Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Through continued investments in science and innovation, we are creating opportunities to better identify and reduce risks for consumers, meaning safer food for Canadian families."
"The strength of our project is in the world-class expertise of the research team and the support of many distinguished organizations from across Canada," Chui said. "The different researchers on the team bring leading-edge expertise in many areas including food sample preparation, assays development, state-of-the art capacity in bioinformatics and genomics, pathogen detection and outbreak response."
The 18-month research project is supported through an investment of $250,000 each from Genome Canada (via Genome Alberta) and the CFIA, and $100,000 from Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions. This investment is also being leveraged through co-funding from federal, provincial, academic and industry partners, including Maple Leaf Foods, increasing the total investment to $1.4 million.
"The Harper Government is committed to improving Canada's already robust food safety system as outlined in the Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Through continued investments in science and innovation, we are creating opportunities to better identify and reduce risks for consumers, meaning safer food for Canadian families."
"The strength of our project is in the world-class expertise of the research team and the support of many distinguished organizations from across Canada," Chui said. "The different researchers on the team bring leading-edge expertise in many areas including food sample preparation, assays development, state-of-the art capacity in bioinformatics and genomics, pathogen detection and outbreak response."
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