Pre-Application for Cooperative Agreement Submitted byIowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)Title RFDA-FD-10-002 Feed Safety and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)/Ruminant Feed Ban Support Project (U18) CFDA 93.449The Laboratory of the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship would like to partner with FDA toincrease the surveillance of feed for contaminants that would pose a safety risk to humans and livestock. Toachieve expanded testing capabilities, IDALS proposes to increase its laboratory efforts in the areas of heavymetals, mycotoxins, prohibited material, and pathogenic microorganisms. In summary, the laboratory aspect ofthis submittal requests financial support to hire a full-time chemist and to purchase an inductively coupledplasma (ICP) system to test for heavy metals in feeds. A microtiter plate reader would also be purchased toquantify mycotoxins in antibody-based (ELISA) tests. IDALS' laboratory is already equipped and staffed toconduct prohibited material testing. The remainder of the Laboratory's financial segment is for purchase ofitems to accomplish the testing - chemicals, disposables, maintenance, extraction kits, ELISA kits, etc. Withthe infrastructure that exists, IDALS can synergize with this additional funding and create a win/win situation,where a significant increase in feed-safety related testing will result in a safer food supply and an increasedawareness by those in the feed and animal industry who are directly involved with producing food.All the inspectors and investigators (10) in the Feed & Fertilizer Bureau of IDALS have their FDA credientials.All will be involved in sample collection which will result in a statewide and balanced representation. Inaddition, one investigator will be assigned to perform BSE on-farm inspections, focusing on Iowa's 2011 dairyoperations.The Feed and Fertilzer Bureau also proposes to conduct food safety surveys in order to explore the use andapplication of the principles in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point in Iowa's feed manufacturing industry.Not only will results be an indicator of weaknesses that may be addressed but will be an opportunity todispense written guidance and information. The Feed and Fertilizer Bureau plans to conduct these inspectionsin conjunction with its contracted BSE/GMP inspections, encompassing feed mills that are nonmedicated(including ethanol plants), nonfederally licensed and medicated, and federally licensed.Data collected throughout the 5-year project will be made readily available at any time to FDA and other states.Because Iowa is second in overall agricultural exports, first in live animals and meat, and first in feed grainsand products, this program is not only cost-efficient but has the potential to produce a spectrum of informationbeneficial to numerous states as well as FDA.
The safety of the nation's food supply is critical in the advent of recent pathogenic outbreaks and global food and feed adulteration incidents. Agricultural production systems form the base for a healthy population and a strong economy. This grant will address human and animal safety by evaluating feed products for adulterants and natural toxins that have not been scrutinized in the past with the aim of a safer food supply for the United States.
