Improved Bio-traceability of Unintended Microorganisms and Their Substances in the Food and Feed Chain

Food Safety policy within the EU is governed by the White Paper on Food Safety (Comm 199, 719 Final) which calls for a comprehensive integrated approach to ensure a high level of human health and consumer protection. This policy has been enacted into legislation by The General Food Law of Jan 1st 2006 (178/2002). This legislation places responsibility for traceability on the food/feed producer (Section 4, Articles 18-20). The strategic objective of BIOTRACER IP is to improve traceability of microorganisms ( biotraceability) contaminating the food/feed chain (including bottled water), whether accidental or deliberate. Using a total food chain approach, we will develop recommendations to control any risk through integration of novel genomic and metabolimic data resulting in a better understanding of the physiology of the microorganisms, combining these with advances in predictive food-based microbiological models.<P>

The BIOTRACER IP Consortium consists of 47 partners, including Europe's largest food/feed industries, several SMEs, relevant INCO countries and networks. The consortium includes experts in predictive microbiology, database developers, software companies, risk assessors, risk managers, system biologists, food and molecular microbiologists, legislative of ficers, standardization and validation members and food retailers. The work is planned for 4 years and is organised in 5 Research Areas, including 10 projects. The practical work is organized in 20 cross-disciplinary workpackages, covering tracing and tracking of contamination in feed, meat and dairy chains, in addition to accidental and deliberate contamination of bottled water. The results of the project will ensure a more reliable and rapid response to a contamination event.