Oklahoma State University - Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center
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OSU gains another edge in food safety capabilities
By Mandy GrossFAPC Communications Specialist
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center has expanded its efforts in microbial food safety by receipt of a high-tech scientific instrument.
The Center, located on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, Okla., is reinforcing its mission of applied food safety research through its partnership with the state’s food processing industry by means of a major equipment donation provided by the Bar-S Foods Co.
“This is a fantastic reflection of how this (food processing) industry works seamlessly to help preserve the safety of our food supply,” said Center Director J. Roy Escoubas.
Bar-S Foods, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz. with three major processing plants in Oklahoma, donated a Qualicon RiboPrinterTm system having a new purchase price of near $200,000 that automatically processes microbial cultures to generate DNA fingerprints. This equipment is state-of-the-art in automated DNA fingerprint analysis, databasing and identification and is used by both federal agencies and private industry.
Peter Muriana, OSU associate professor and Center food microbiologist, said this equipment will enhance the microbial diagnostic capabilities of food safety programs in the Center, assisting with DNA fingerprinting of pathogens or spoilage microorganisms that may be helpful to Oklahoma food industries.
Such microorganisms can easily find overlooked hiding places in processing environments. This could contribute to them gaining entry into manufactured products, leading to contaminated foods and requiring molecular methods of discrimination to ensure these reservoirs are eliminated.
Before the donation of the Qualicon RiboPrinterTm, Center microbiologists used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to conduct DNA fingerprinting.
“We used laborious manual DNA fingerprinting techniques that were subject to human error during processing of the samples,” Muriana said. “But now, this work can be facilitated using the automated fingerprinting capability of the RiboPrinterTm.”
Moreover, as an academic facility, the acquirement of this equipment immediately elevates the Center’s capabilities to participate with programs of national prominence in investigating microbial sources for either outbreak strains or spoilage organisms problematic to food processors.
Siobhan Reilly, another Center food microbiologist, said the equipment is ideal for some aspects regarding the biosecurity of the food supply.
“The RiboPrinterTm increases our diagnostic and tracking ability for certain deadly food borne pathogens as related to Homeland Security issues,” Reilly said.
Bar-S Foods originally acquired the equipment to help with their own food safetyefforts, but soon realized it could be beneficial on a much larger scale through the Center’s research and extension programs.
Rasool Rabbani, Bar-S division vice president for co-packer operations and technical services, said they are extremely pleased that they could be of assistance to not only the Center’s programs, but indirectly to the entire food industry.
“As a food processor, we (Bar-S) recognized that we will maintain access to this equipment, but will also gain the expertise and research findings of Muriana’s work and that of others in the Center,” Rabbani said.
Rabbani added the opportunity for other processors to now have access to this technology, enhancing the outstanding reputation Oklahoma has in the food-processing sector.
“This unparalleled approach by Bar-S Foods is not only a generous gesture to the Center and the food industry, but a confirmation of their commitment to food safety,” Escoubas said. “I greatly commend them.”
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Cutline:Darren Toczko (left), microbiology and chemistry lab manager for the Bar-S Foods Co. processing plant in Elk City, Okla., and Siobhan Reilly (right), Center food microbiologist, pose in front of the Qualicon RiboPrinterTm that Bar-S Foods Co. donated to the Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center.
Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.
