Bob Kerrey: “I strongly support, along with the Conferees, three important components of pre-harvest and post-harvest food safety…”

“I strongly support, along with the Conferees, three important components of pre-harvest and post-harvest food safety research proposed by the Agricultural Research Service. The Conferees made the right decision to fund research of methodologies for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) validation, host-pathogen relationships and rapid on-farm DNA-based diagnostic testing. ARS should emphasize research on the genetic basis for host-pathogen relationships. Scientists already know that exposure, infection, and contamination of live animals by certain bacteria and parasites can result in pathogens in our meat-based foods. Further research in this area will enable scientists to develop methods to identify and select animals that are resistant to foodborne pathogens. Along with studying the host-pathogen relationship, it is important that researchers develop rapid, specific, and sensitive DNA-based diagnostic tests that will allow identification of pathogens in live animals and their production environment.”