SPECIAL PROJECT TRACK 1 (SAMPLE COLLECTION) The core tenet of this large and multifaceted proposal is to contribute a comprehensive and integrated food protection laboratory hub to the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) that is capable of analyzing many different foods across a diversity of threat priorities. Adaptive high-volume sampling is central to our goal of ensuring a safe food supply. The MDH Laboratories Administration is the primary servicing laboratory for the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standard in the state of Maryland. Through this food safety program the Laboratory has been testing food samples from the Maryland Office of Food Protection. The MDH Laboratories Administration plans to continue performing analytical testing for this important program. In order to meet the additional goals of our FERN-funded radiochemistry surveillance program, we recently piloted a contracted food sample collection program that allowed us both to increase the volume of our testing, as well as to tailor it to current and emerging needs of the state of Maryland. The purpose of this special project track is to expand this effective and FERN-approved sample collecting mechanism to meet the needs of the nation as well as the State of Maryland by supporting the activities proposed in this cooperative agreement. Accordingly, the funds provided under this track have been budgeted to compensate the sampling organization for collecting samples, purchase supplies for the sampling organization to utilize during sample collection, pay for shipping costs, and/or to pay for samples purchased at the manufacturer or retail location. The resulting activities will enhance food surveillance across all disciplines, and provide a means of gaining a data-driven understanding of the underlying risks associated with Maryland?s food industry.
