Public Funding for Community Foods Limited

Salmonella is the most important foodborne pathogen and incidences caused by contaminated food of non-animal origin have been increasing, reflecting rising consumers’ demands for fresh/minimally- processed fruit and vegetables. Crops with an outdoor post-harvest management period are particularly at risk; this project focuses on Salmonella contamination of vine fruits (raisins, sultanas), which are dried outside post harvest and exposed to animal fouling. Impacts throughout the supply chain are significant, from grower to retailer, with significant recall costs involved. This project will transfer technology from both industry and academia to develop an innovative technology to prevent on-farm Salmonella contamination; i.e. at source. The solution will be based on safe, naturally-occurring, highly-specific antimicrobial agents (bacteriophage). A business-led consortium will address questions of technology specificity and characterisation, together with deployment and integration into commercial practice.