# Microbiological Contamination of Food Surveillance and Emergency Analysis

> **NIH FDA U19** · NEW JERSEY STATE DEPT/HEALTH/SENIOR SRVS · 2020 · $207,438

## Abstract

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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10175322
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007119-01
- **Recipient organization:** NEW JERSEY STATE DEPT/HEALTH/SENIOR SRVS
- **Principal Investigator:** Edward Acheampong
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $207,438
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10175322

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10175322, Microbiological Contamination of Food Surveillance and Emergency Analysis (1U19FD007119-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10175322. Licensed CC0.

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