This measure is designed to ensure the safety of all imported foods, and complements rapid and effective tests for detecting food adulteration. Indeed, one of the requirements of the Bioterrorism Act was that extensive research should be carried out on test methods and sampling methodologies suitable for rapid testing for adulteration, particularly at ports of entry.
The FDA currently has over 90 different active research projects on food adulteration. Test kits suitable for use with a variety of food matrices are being evaluated and hand-held tests kits which can be used to isolate, identify and characterise microbial agents are being developed.
One project has already resulted in the development of a sample pretreatment procedure using a commercial test paper to detect a readily available, highly toxic substance. However, the FDA says that the test needs further work to make it robust suitable for field work. The FDA has already significantly improved its capability to rapidly analyse a large number of samples and quickly and accurately identify toxic chemicals intentionally added to foods.
The FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) also has an active research programme which addresses health risks associated with foodborne chemical and biological contaminants, the safety of juice and seafood through HACCP systems and the proper labelling of foods and cosmetics. It also covers the safety of dietary supplements, infant formulae and medical foods, food industry and enforcement activities, consumer education and the harmonisation of international food standards and safety policies.
There are also ongoing CFSAN research projects on biological agents such as Francissella tularensis, tetrodotoxin, Clostridium botulinum, anthrax, Cryptosporidium parvum, Staphylococcal enterotoxins, the detection of chemical agents in foods and the study of nisin and sublancin to control bacterial spore outgrowth.
As the registration deadline for food imports into the US approaches, the knock-on effects of 9/11 on world trade are once more being felt.