Food Science Institute Students' Papers and Presentations
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This collection contains research papers written by honors students working with faculty and researchers in the Food Science Institute. Students' work reflects the totality of the "food system” from production through processing through consumption of final product.
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Item Open Access Food defense preparedness in small and very small meat and poultry establishments(2008-12-01) Sobering, Lisa A.Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, a heightened awareness to the threat of terrorism, particularly directed towards components of critical infrastructure, has permeated the nation. In May 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service issued general guidelines to assist meat and poultry establishments in strengthening their food defense efforts. The guidelines are voluntary; therefore, the extent of the industry’s implementation of these protective measures is mostly unknown. Furthermore, some have expressed concern that small and very small establishments may not be adequately prepared for an incident of intentional contamination of their products due to limited resources and other factors. A web-based survey was developed to gain insight into the opinions of establishments of varying size and geographic location within the United States on the importance of different food defense areas. The survey was circulated through four industry trade organizations: the North American Meat Processors Association, the American Association of Meat Processors, the American Meat Institute, and the Kansas Meat Processors Association. Members of these organizations represent various processing sectors and facility sizes. Employees (n=121) with knowledge of food defense preparedness activities of individual plants responded to the survey which was comprised of multiple choice, ranking, and yes or no questions. Questions ranged from demographic (e.g., size of establishment, geographic location) to ranking the likelihood of an intentional contamination event occurring in the U.S. Preliminary results showed that the majority of respondents represented federally inspected establishments (86%), establishments that were small in size (52%), and establishments that had some type of a food defense plan (74%). Fifty-one percent of respondents responded an intentional contamination event in the U.S. was somewhat likely; however, 66% of respondents indicated such an event was not likely to occur in their particular establishment. Additional data from this survey will be used to better understand the needs of small and very small processing establishments and to help guide development and delivery of effective food defense planning materials in the future.Item Open Access From The jungle to HACCP: A first-hand view of the United States meat inspection process(2008-09-03T16:18:08Z) Bradburn, RyanSince the advent as the Bureau of Animal Industry in 1884, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has had an evolving role working to protect the U.S. food supply. The agency’s role in food safety was redefined by the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906; and toward the end of the 20th century it replaced its organoleptic approach to inspection with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), a much more modern and scientific approach. This summer, I had the chance to experience the USDA Food Safety and inspection Service (FSIS) from the inside, across the gamut of its responsibilities. These responsibilities have not only grown, but their importance has become increasingly evident over the agency’s history. Scrutiny dominated by public opinion, which in turn is often influenced by casuistic reasoning, compounds the complexity of the duties of the FSIS. In the end, the FSIS is an extension of the executive branch of the federal government – a service of, by, and for the nation’s citizens. This summer has granted me a great deal of experience and knowledge regarding food safety in the United States, especially as it relates to the meat industry. I have been able to see the breadth of the jurisdiction of the FSIS, observing small slaughter operations, as well as highspeed pork, poultry, and beef establishments. I have seen new and old processing facilities, an egg powdering plant, and have been challenged to fill the shoes of an Enforcement Investigative and Analysis Officer (EIAO) for a day. The provision of food safety for a nation’s food supply is an arduous task requiring a monumental amount of paperwork. The implementation of HACCP has placed responsibility on plants to create a safe product, and has provided a scientific model for them to use. This scientific basis has led to tighter controls and safer product, but can be difficult for smaller establishments to research and evaluate. Nonetheless, food safety plays a vital role in public health and the FSIS is an integral part of that process, impacting the food supply not only of the United States, but the world as well.Item Open Access Multilateral risk management and proactionary policy formulation for bovine spongiform encephalopathy: A new framework(2008-04-09T14:51:46Z) Lee, WilliamBovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or commonly “mad cow disease,” is a zoonotic, neuropathological disorder classified among the prion diseases that, since its discovery and scientific characterization in the past few decades, has had profound implications on the food safety and security agenda for nations across the world. Unfortunately, the majority of regulatory trade policies and practices most countries have prescribed in response to managing this disease has largely been unilateral and reactionary rather than mutually cooperative, international, and proactionary. This situation afflicts tremendous economic and social costs on all interested parties, including the cattle industry and affiliated industries, consumers, governments on both local and national scales, and the medical and disease control communities. Much of the past policy has been dictated by reactionary trade sanctions against BSE affected nations, issued indefinitely and at the discretion of individual nations. This has resulted in the collapse of several national cattle export economies around the world that are, of late, only beginning to recuperate. Indeed, what is needed is a frameshift in BSE management to one based on international cooperation and mutual application and enforcement of common policies for disease surveillance and control. This paper describes the relevance of a multinational supply-chain regulation strategem applied to BSE management practices. Such a strategem may facilitate the dual goals of economic security and food safety without compromise to either.Item Open Access The inclusion of primary care physicians in pandemic flu planning: An analysis of historical lessons and current issues(2008-04-09T14:51:44Z) Lauer, Jacob K.; jakeA paper presented to the College of Agriculture Honors Committee of Kansas State University in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Honors Program of Kansas State University.
