Application of predictive microbiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment tools to estimate health impacts of consumption of organic produce in Brazil, with focus on Salmonella spp

Abstract

This postdoctoral project aims to apply innovative predictive microbiology and quantitative risk assessment tools to estimate the health impacts associated with organic produce. These products present an increased market and consumption in Brazil and in the world in consequence of the demand for healthy food and without chemical residues. However, organic farming practices such as the use of animal manure, can increase the risk of contamination by enteric pathogenic micro-organisms such as Salmonella spp. and, consequently, pose health risks. The project includes obtaining the data necessary for the construction of the risk model, including the enumeration of Salmonella spp. in organic produce sold in Sao Paulo using molecular laboratory techniques and determination of the consumption profile for the population through the use of questionnaires designed specifically for this purpose. The results will be used as input data in the risk model to be constructed, focusing on the characteristics of the organic production process. It is expected that the results of this project will assist producers in establishing appropriate control measures to improve the microbiological safety of these products, as well as governmental surveillance agencies to establish appropriate microbiological criteria. This project will be developed in the frame of the Food Research Center (FoRC/FAPESP/CEPID 2013/07914-8), in partnership with the Center for Food Safety and Security Systems (CFS3), University of Maryland, USA, through an MOU, and with the support of Dr. Donald Schaffner, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, USA. (AU)