BIOSECURITY

Animal production-food safety 

Biosensors

Smart packaging

Team members

Program details

POWERPOINT
Dairy Farm Biosecurity & Food Safety presentation
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A South Carolina Animal Production Food Safety Partnership: 
Biosecurity and Food Safety
Each year microorganisms cause an estimated 76 million cases of foodborne illness, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5200 deaths in the US. The USDA Economic Research Service estimates the cost of foodborne illness due to five major disease agents at $6.3 billion annually.

To reduce this risk for South Carolinians, a team of Clemson scientists formed the S.C. Animal Production Food Safety Partnership. The group is working to control the spread of foodborne illnesses that may be found on dairy cattle farms. Even healthy cattle may be carriers of E.coli and salmonella bacteria that can cause illness and death among humans.

This work is supported by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service through a cooperative agreement. For more information, contact Susan Barefoot, Associate Dean, Food Safety & Nutrition.

Survey
As a first step, the scientists surveyed 110 S.C. dairy farmers in 2002 for their understanding of biosecurity and the measures they currently use to provide on-farm protection from foodborne illnesses transmitted by cattle. In addition to E.coli and salmonella bacteria found in the United States, other foodborne illnesses can include foot and mouth disease and "mad cow" disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) currently found in the European Union but not in the U.S. 

Water Samples
In addition to the survey of all farms, the Clemson team took water samples from the water troughs on a representative sample of 30 farms and tested for salmonella and E.coli. Their hypothesis is that diseases can be transmitted between animals at common watering troughs.

Cross-Contamination
Team members also investigated the cross-contamination possibilities between animals and humans. To do this, they monitored the traffic patterns of animals, people, and vehicles on two farms. The scientists used a dusting of fluorescent powder to demonstrate how the traffic patterns intersected. 

They dusted the tires of delivery trucks and other vehicles that came into areas where the cattle walked and they dusted  the clothes and shoes of visitors who had been on other farms. The fluorescent tracks graphically demonstrated how the traffic patterns crossed.

Decontamination Methods
Now, the scientists are working to demonstrate the efficacy of decontamination techniques, again using fluorescent powder before and after these efforts. 

In the case of vehicles, the tires will be monitored for contamination from animal manure before and after scrubbing with an antibacterial agent. The clothes and shoes of human visitors who have been on other farms will also be dusted with the powder and then monitored before and after washing the clothes, changing clothes, scrubbing and disinfecting shoes, or using disposable coveralls and boots.

Educational Materials
A final step, planned for 2003, is to produce educational materials that will explain the relationships between food safety and biosecurity, the need for biosecurity measures, and how to assess risks as part of developing biosecurity plans. These materials will be shared with dairy producers, salesmen, feed representatives, farm visitors, members of 4-H and the Future Farmers of America (FFA), and other groups as needed.