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].