Application Title: New Jersey Food Testing Program - Food Safety and Defense (2020-2025) Project Title: Microbial Contamination of Food- Surveillance and Emergency Analysis Project Summary – Discipline A: Microbiology, Analytical Track 1: Food Defense The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is pursuing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Laboratory Flexible Funding Model cooperative agreement focused on improving the capability and capacity of NJ to maintain food safety and security. The BioThreat Response Laboratory (BTRL) is housed within NJDOH’s Public Health Laboratory Services (PHLS) Microbiology Program. BTRL has been a Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) partner since 2005 conducting food analyses in support of State and FDA priorities. The Laboratory has actively participated in activities associated with past cooperative agreements and is looking forward to participating in the current FDA cooperative agreement. The laboratory will participate in Microbiology - Analytical Track 1: Food Defense. This project aims to enhance the capacity and capabilities of the state of New Jersey to rapidly detect microbial pathogens and toxins in food stuff. The Laboratory will collect and analyze commercially available infant formulas; baby foods; milk and other dairy products, fruit juices, and other foods as requested by the FDA from supermarkets/retail outlets across New Jersey for the presence of Francisella tularensis, Burkholderia sp., Brucella sp., Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Coxiella burnetti and Ricin toxin. These organisms are Tier-1 Select agents as per the Select Agent Regulation. An early warning sign of food contamination will prevent foodborne illnesses, minimize foodborne exposures and save lives in the threat of a large-scale outbreak. In addition to the surveillance of foods available for purchase in New Jersey, BTRL will 1) participate in FDA- requested activities including triage exercises and national security events as appropriate, 2) provide rapid response preparedness for contamination events and threats to the food supply, 3) participate in and pass proficiency tests, 4) report results through appropriate channels, 5) attend trainings and conferences, 6) host site visits, 7) provide status reports, and 8) participate in network teleconferences. The project will help the laboratory to maintain preparedness to rapidly respond to suspected or confirmed intentional contamination event and proactively help safeguard the State’s and national food supply.