Improving sanitation practices in food processing facilities using fluorescent visual tools

Our long-term project goal is to improve sanitation practices in food processing facilities so processors can develop and implement effective standardized sanitation operating procedures in order to reduce the overall risk of foodborne illness and improve economic viability.Assess the need - Assess the needs specific to the food safety technical support tools and training opportunities necessary to best support small processors.Characterize the functional performance of fluorescent biomimetic particles on food-grade processing surfaces - Optimize the developed fBMPs; understand and evaluate the use of fBMPs by mimicking sanitation practices in model food production settings (UMass Food Science Pilot Plant); and evaluate the visual indicator tool in comparison to traditional swabbing methods.Recruit, deliver and evaluate basic GMP and sanitation programming - Recruit, deliver and evaluate learnings from a sanitation program for small processors to increase knowledge, self-efficacy and proficient skills.