Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies. Sonia Salas

Transcription

1 Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies Sonia Salas

2 Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies Verification: Methods, procedures, tests and other evaluations, in addition to monitoring, to determine whether a control measure or combination of control measures is or has been operating as intended and to establish the validity of the food safety plan (Source: FDA Industry Guidance: Control of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE Foods) Verification activities include: validation, verification that monitoring is being conducted as required, verification of implementation and effectiveness, verification that appropriate decisions about corrective actions are being made and reanalysis (Source: PC Rule )

3 Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies What new and emerging technologies can assist the produce sector in determining whether Listeria preventive controls are or have been operating as intended in a food safety plan?

4 Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies Listeria controls (Source: FDA Industry Guidance: Control of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE Foods) Controls on personnel Design, construction and operation of a plant Design, construction and maintenance of equipment Sanitation Storage practices and time/temperature controls Transportation Training Controls on raw materials and ingredients Process control based on formulating a RTE food Listericial process control

5 Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Nanotechnology Source: National Nanotechnology Initiative ( Food-contact surface coatings (antimicrobial) Big data management (food safety records)

6 WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) determines the entire set of genes of an organism (complete DNA makeup) ---- DNA fingerprint WGS has higher resolution than other laboratory techniques such as Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) --- Increased precision WGS is currently used at the regulatory level to track and trace pathogens with higher resolution WGS is not new and has the potential to be used at the industry level too WGS technology is becoming cheaper and more accurate

7 WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING WGS and Listeria verification activities Regulatory agencies FDA is using WGS to trace and track pathogens during investigations (resident or transient Listeria) It allows regulators to identify specific suppliers that are introducing contaminants Private industry It is being used to identify contamination sources. IBM and Mars are creating a genomic database of the entire food supply chain to detect the introduction of pathogens such as Listeria into a production environment The current Zero Listeria Tolerance US policy does not encourage a proactive seek and destroy strategy for L.mono

8 NANOTECHNOLOGY Nanotechnology allows the development of nanomaterials and enhance their properties Food safety applications include Improved packaging to reduce spoilage Sensors to detect pathogens and spoilage Disinfectants and antimicrobial surfaces Source: National Nanotechnology Initiative (

9 NANOTECHNOLOGY Nanotechnology and Listeria verification activities Nanomaterials including metal oxide and metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and quantum dots are gaining a prominent role in the design of sensors and biosensors for food analysis (for pathogens detection) Research is under way to determine any risks to the human health and environment because of nanoparticles exposure

10 FOOD-CONTACT SURFACE COATING A recent report presented at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFTS) highlighted research on special new coatings that are more resistant to bacteria/microbes than food-contact surface materials used today The coatings may be commercially available in the next few years and will need to withstand some pretty tough treatment Food-contact Surface coatings and Listeria verification activities They can enhance current equipment design and cleaning controls (validation of such controls)

11 BIG DATA MANAGEMENT 90 % of the data that exists today was created in the last 2 years (Source Forbes 2011) Data analysis and trends can identify potential issues and prevent contamination events Data analytics can enhance process efficiencies, save time and money (increased data collection and FSMA reporting requirements will generate more data) Big Data and Listeria verification activities Supply-chain trend analysis (corrective actions proactive solutions)

12 KEY POINTS New and emerging technologies should strengthen food safety systems The right technologies can enhance verification activities The produce industry would benefit from further exploring technologies such as WGS, Nanotechnology, Big Data, Food contact Surface coatings

13 KEY POINTS Many will promise to have the silver bullet, so be alert and ask some questions What questions to ask? How does this technology compares to similar technologies? Has it been approved or validated by any entities? Has been tested by actual users? New and emerging technologies should make our jobs easier Get involved and stay informed

14 Thank you! Sonia Salas Director, Science & Technology