Hawaii's FERN Microbiology Laboratory's Role in Keeping Human Food Products Safe

Hawaii State Department of Health
State Laboratories Division
Laboratory Preparedness and Response Branch
Biological Response Section
Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM)
FOA: PAR-20-105
September 2020 - August 2021
Project Title: Hawaii' FERN Microbiology Laboratory's Role in Keeping Human Food Products Safe
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year 48 million people get sick from
foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. Hawai'i's unique ethnic and racial diversity, immigrant
population, as well as its geographic location makes a unique public health jurisdiction. Our remoteness to the
continental United States and the closest US state to the neighboring United States Affiliated Pacific Islands
(USAPI) adds to this complexity. Furthermore, eighty five percent of food supply in Hawaii is imported.
The overarching objective of the proposed projects is to enhance and strengthen the capacity and capabilities
of Hawaii's FERN Microbiology laboratory in keeping human food products safe. To accomplish this objective,
we are requesting funding for Discipline A, Analytical Track 1: Food Defense, Analytical Track 2: Human Food
testing, Analytical Track 5: Microbiology Capacity/Capability development – Cyclospora and Discipline D: Special
Project: ORAPP Integration. By participating in the food defense project, the HI FERN Microbiology laboratory
aims to prepare and respond to possible intentional microbiological contamination of food products not only in
Hawaii but to serve as a surge laboratory on a national scale. Secondly, by participating in Human Food testing,
HI would like to contribute to the national food testing surveillance program with the aim of removing potentially
contaminated food products out of reach by consumers and aid in inspections and investigations. Thirdly, we
would like to develop our capability for Cyclospora testing. Berries which has been implicated in human
cylcosporiasis in the US was listed on the 2016 top 10 imported agricultural commodities to Hawaii by the HI
Department of Agriculture. By developing this capability, testing can be done in-state without the need to send
to the nearest FDA Office which is five hours away by air. Lastly, ORAPP integration funding will allow us to
seamlessly submit violative and surveillance reports to the FDA in a timely manner.