Florida Dept. of Agriculture Flexible Funding Food Chemistry/Microbiology

LFFM Overall Component - Project AbstractThe Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety, throughthis cooperative agreement intends to enhance the capacity and capabilities of state humantesting laboratories in support of an integrated food safety system. Specifically, through sampletesting in the areas of microbiology, and chemistry, and the development of special projects thatwould support and expand that testing. This project will strengthen and improve the collaborationof surveillance testing activities between the FDA and our state laboratory partners to continuebuilding a nationally integrated laboratory science system.Specifically, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division ofFood Safety is responsible for the inspection of permitted food entities, collection of human foodsamples, and laboratory testing services in the areas of microbiology and chemistry for both fooddefense and food testing within the state of Florida. Participation in special projects as supportedthrough this funding opportunity will support and expand that testing. The Division of Food Safetywithin the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services includes both the samplingorganization (Bureau of Inspections) and the laboratories with responsibility for the collection andtesting of human food products including the state manufactured food regulatory program.By strengthening and improving collaboration with the FDA, sample testing completed under thisproject will play a greater role in helping FDACS and FDA prevent contaminated products fromreaching consumers, understand risks, and assess the value of strategies to control those risks.