Project Summary – Discipline C: Radiochemistry, Track 1 The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Public Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL) is pursuing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Laboratory Flexible Funding Model cooperative agreement focused on improving the capability and capacity of NJ to maintain food safety and security. The Radioanalytical Laboratory at NJDOH will prepare for triage exercises to support and maintain State and network readiness. Semi-quantitative instruments, such as portable field survey meters, will be used to scan potentially contaminated food samples. The semi-quantitative results will determine if contamination is “well above” or “well below” regulatory limits. To process samples in a timely and effective manner, the following analytical process flows will be followed: a) general screening based on total radiation emitted from the sample. b) screening based on type of radiation emitted (i.e., alpha, beta, or gamma). c) using radionuclide-specific analytical techniques to indicate the most significant activities or when the radionuclides have been identified. Additionally, the laboratory will support the network by participating in national security events and other emergency exercises as requested by FDA, maintaining surge capacity to analyze human food samples for the detection of gamma emitters, including but not limited to Cs-137, Cs-134, Co-60, Mn-54, Ru-103 and I-131, alpha emitters (U, Am, Pu, Th), and beta emitters (Sr-90). Laboratory staff will apply their experience working with vegetation, juices, grain products, seafood, dairy products, baby foods, water, other beverages, and other matrices to support the testing needs of the FDA. By conducting the work detailed in this proposal and managing an integrated food safety system, NJDOH will be able to expand its food defense and safety activities while further safeguarding public health. Importantly, the work conducted by PHEL will supplement the national efforts of the FDA and other states while providing our federal and State partners with critical radiological contaminant data they can use to enhance their food defense activities.