Food Protection Trends - February 2010 - 114

P2-24 Validation of a Norovirus Detection Methodology in Soft Red Fruits AMBROOS STAlS, leen Baert, Els Van Coillie and Mieke Uyttendaele, Ghent University, coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium; Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Technology and Food Unit, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium Introductin: noroviruses (noVs) are recognized as one of the most important causes of (foodborne) nonbacteriological gastroenteritis worldwide. Despite these facts, a standardized assay to detect noV in different food types is still not available. Rational: In the current study, the robustness of a suggested noV detection methodology was examined on different soft red fruits. Results: Ten grams of different food products were inoculated with diluted GI and/or GII NoV stool samples. Virus/Rna extraction was performed as described by Baert et al (2008). a multiplex real-time Rt-PCR assay described by Stals et al. (2009) was used for detection of NoV GI, NoV GII and MNV-1 of which the latter served as full process control. MnV-1 ssRna was added used as reverse transcription control and MnV-1 plasmid Dna was used as real-time PCR internal amplification control. GI NoVs were recovered from deep-frozen raspberry crum samples with efficiencies of 28.11 ± 7.82% and 20.09 ± 9.40% (high and low concentrated inoculation). GII inoculations were recovered with efficiencies of 13.82 ± 6.23% and 7.57 ± 3.79% (high and low concentrated inoculation). Conclusions: Results show that the recovery of (genomic material of) GI and GII NoVs from different soft red food products is influenced by the concentration of GI/GII NoVs present on the food sample and the fruit/matrix type. Further validation of the developed method on different food matrices remains necessary, but this assay seems to have perspectives for detection of human GI/GII NoVs in food samples. P2-25 Simulation Modelling and Risk Assessment as Tools to Identify the Impact of Climate Change on Microbiological Food Safety – The Case Study of Fresh Produce Supply Chain Liesbeth Jacxsens, luning, P., J. van der Vorst, F. Devlieghere, R. leemans, and M. Uyttendaele, Ghent University, coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium Introduction: the current quality assurance and control tools and methods to prevent and/or to control microbiological risks associated with fresh produce are challenged due to the following pressures upon the food supply chain, i.e., changing consumption patterns, globalization and climate change. It demonstrates the need for scientific research and development of new and/or improved tools, techniques and practices to adapt the current risk management systems. Rational: a conceptual research approach is presented to analyse the complexity of the climate change and globalization challenge on the fresh produce supply chain taken as a case study. the factors which affect the vulnerability of the fresh produce chain demand a multidisciplinary research approach. the proposed knowledge-based modelling system is believed to be a most appropriate way to identify problems and to offer solutions to monitor and prevent microbiologicalal food safety risks during all phases of food production and supply. Results: to explore the potential impact of climate change and globalization, baseline information can be obtained by surveillance and performance measurement of implemented food safety management systems. simulation of climate change scenarios and the logistic chain of fresh produce, along with mathematical models to optimize packaging technology to maintain quality and safety of fresh produce are tools to provide insights in the complex dynamic ecosystem. they are the basis for elaboration of risk assessment studies to scientifically support management options and decisions to new microbiological threats related to globalization and climate change in the fresh produce supply chain. Conclusions: this research concept as such will contribute to develop strategies in order to guarantee the (microbiological) food safety of fresh produce on the long term. Acknowledgments: this conceptual research approach will be undertaken in an eU FP7 project Veg-i-trade coordinated by Mieke Uyttendaele. The Veg-i-Trade project responds to a call by of DG Research of the european Commission and addresses the elaboration of research activities to identify impacts of anticipated climate change and globalisation globalization on food safety, microbiological and chemical hazards, of fresh produce and derived food products. the authors wish to thank all the members of the Veg-i-trade consortium. P2-26 Potential Use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) to Assess Pork Spoilage olga Papadopoulou, efstathios Panagou, Constantinos Mallidis, and CHRysoULa tassoU, national agricultural Research Foundation, Institute of technology of agricultural Products, sofokli Venizelou 1, 141 23 lycovrissi, Athens, Greece Introduction: Quality is a subjective and sometimes elusive term. Freshness of meat muscles is generally considered the most important contributor to quality. It is therefore crucial to have valid methods to monitor freshness and quality. Indeed, methods should be valid for application by industry and consumers in order to 114 FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS | FEBRUARY 2010

Food Protection Trends - February 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - February 2010