Researchers investigate ways to detect deliberate contamination.

While there are a number of research efforts underway that are attempting to address contamination in everything from fresh produce to canned goods, scientists at the University of Wisconsin at Madison are focusing on ways to protect the milk supply.

The university will use its share of a three-year, $15-million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HS) to develop techniques for detecting intentional contamination of the nation's food supply. Their work is part of the University Center for Post-Harvest Food Protection and Defense, a national consortium of academic, private and government partners located at the University of Minnesota. The center will establish best practices and attract new researchers to manage and respond to food contamination issues.

On the University of Wisconsin campus, College of Engineering experts in sensor technology will collaborate with colleagues at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to develop a variety of sensing systems that rapidly detect contamination. Research will be aimed at improving the reliability and the speed at which biological toxins and other chemical agents can be detected.

Scientists in biomedical engineering and food microbiology and toxicology have developed devices that monitor a host's response to toxins. Researchers will adapt these methods for use in food protection. One solution might be to improve packaging systems by including sensors in a package that could detect when the package's integrity is compromised or the contents contaminated. Or it might be possible to develop optically enhanced visual-sensor systems for detecting contaminated products.

While research outcomes could address contamination detection in everything from fresh produce to canned goods, including imported items, UW-Madison investigators will focus on ways to protect the milk supply. Other biosecurity research efforts at the overall center, which includes the work of more than 90 investigators, are focusing on informatics, scenario planning and epidemiological modeling.

Michigan State University and North Dakota State University also are partner institutions. Experts from 12 additional universities, independent research facilities, state health and agriculture agencies, professional organizations, agriculture and food processors, and private consultants also will participate.

Further information. Eric Johnson, Department of Food Microbiology and Toxicology, Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1925 Willow Dr., Madison, WI 53706; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].