Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies
Sonia Salas 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 §117.155) 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? 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 Verification Activities: New and Emerging Technologies
– Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)
– Nanotechnology Source: National Nanotechnology Initiative (www.nano.gov)
– Food-contact surface coatings (antimicrobial)
– Big data management (food safety records) WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING
• Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) determines the entire set of genes of an organism (complete DNA make- up) ---- 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 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 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 (www.nano.gov) 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 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) 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) 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 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… Thank you! Sonia Salas Director, Science & Technology [email protected]