Project Summary/Abstract Discipline A Microbiology Track 2 Human Food Product Testing The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Microbiology Laboratory emphasizes food safety for human food through the use of surveillance testing for foodborne pathogens. The lab employs four food safety microbiologists to perform the testing using validated and verified test methods. The lab routinely tests samples for Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and pathogenic E. coli (Shiga-toxin producing E. coli, or STEC). Manufactured food samples are routinely collected at retail stores by inspectors of MDARD’s Food and Dairy Division.