Project Summary Discipline A Microbiology, Track 2 Human Food Testing The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory Services Section (LSS) works in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the state regulatory body, DSHS Consumer Protection Division (CPD), to ensure food and food products in Texas are safe. As a part of an integrated food safety system, the goals of the LSS are to facilitate and improve food testing surveillance, inspection, and investigation in the State of Texas. With the funding provided by this grant, LSS will maintain its partnership with the DSHS CPD, the State Manufactured Food Regulatory agency in Texas. CPD will act as the sampling organization and develop an annual sampling plan for the LSS to test approximately 500 samples per year for this project over the 5-year period of the grant. The sampling and testing matrices can be adjusted to address the needs to test relevant commodities and hazards each year. With the funds, LSS will maintain and expand its capability and capacity of screening and confirming microorganisms, maintain current ISO 17025 accreditations, and expand its scope to include Yersinia enterocolitica and Cronobacter species. The laboratory will use current standardized validated methods for various food pathogen detection and identification. Current tests detect and identify Salmonella (200; # tests per month), Listeria (250), Campylobacter (75), E. coli O157:H7 (100), Non-O157 STECs (75), Staphylococcal Enterotoxin (50), and others using BAX® Real-Time PCR, VIDAS, API, VITEK 2 instruments, etc. and culture methods following the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual. LSS will continue to follow FDA guidance for proper sampling and laboratory data documentation and participate in annual proficiency tests (PT) for work performed under this project. LSS will stay committed to its 20.88 agreement with the FDA and participate in FDA requested assignments and remain an active member of FERN by attending meetings and supporting FERN activities. With the support of this grant, DSHS LSS and CPD will be able to continue to provide and expand food safety surveillance to ensure the safety of human food and food products in Texas.