NIFA Funded Research on
Chemicals, Mycotoxins, and
Nanoparticles in Foods
Jodi P. Williams, PhD
National Program Leader, Food Safety
IRAC Workshop on Chemical Food Safety Risk Assessment
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD
June 14th 2012
INSTITUTE OF
YOUTH AND
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Director
Dr. Sonny
Ramaswamy
INSTITUTE OF
BIOENERGY,
CLIMATE, and
ENVIRONMENT
INSTITUTE OF
FOOD
PRODUCTION AND
SUSTAINABILITY
INSTITUTE OF
FOOD SAFETY
AND NUTRITION
Competitive
Formula
Funds
Award Statistics
 30 awards
> $4.6M
Acc. No.
0211058
0213695
0214332
0212075
0212102
0215579
0222256
0222716
0222964
0225913
0229060
0230865
0162162
0170246
0189368
Title
GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCE ON MYCOTOXINS AND
PHYCOTOXINS
RAPID ENZYME-BASED ASSAYS TO DETECT BANNED
SUBSTANCES IN FOOD
FOOD SAFETY: FARM TO TABLE
THE FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABANK
(FARAD)/NC COMPONENT
FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABANK
NANOSCALE ANALYSIS OF CHEMICAL RESIDUES IN FOODS
USING WHISPERING-GALLERY MODE MINIATURE SENSORS
INTEGRATED STRATEGIES TO REDUCE FOODBORNE
ILLNESS AND FOOD ALLERGIC REACTIONS ASSOCIATED
WITH INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED RESTAURANTS
FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABANK (FARAD)
FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABANK (FARAD) (PDJIM RIVIERE)
ADVANCING FOOD ALLERGY EDUCATION FOR HOSPITALITY
MANAGEMENT AND/OR DIETETICS STUDENTS USING
STORYTELLING
ACCUMULATION OF ENGINEERED NANOPARTICLES IN
BELOWGROUND VEGETABLES: NUTRITIONAL
BIOACCESSIBILITY AND DIETARY EXPOSURE RISKS
FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABANK (FARAD)
LIPOSOME-AMPLIFIED BIOANALYSIS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS
AND PATHOGENS
MYCOTOXINS IN CEREAL GRAINS
ANALYTICAL METHODS DEVELOPMENT AND COMPOSITION
OF ORGANIC MINOR CONSTITUENTS IN FOOD AND WATER
Location
GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES
BIOO SCIENTIFIC
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
Kansas State University
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIV
KANSAS STATE UNIV
N Y AGRICULTURAL EXPT STATION
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
Acc. No.
0191214
Title
UNDERSTANDING THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN CHEMISTRY,
FOOD PROCESSING AND HUMAN HEALTH
0201770
PESTICIDE RESIDUE ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT PESTICIDE
REGISTRATION FOR USES ON MINOR CROPS
0203755
0205400
FOOD SAFETY POST HARVEST
MICROBIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SAFETY OF RAW FOODS
SOLD ON THE INTERNET MARKETS
ENHANCEMENT OF FOOD SAFETY BIOSENSOR SYSTEMS
THROUGH NANOTECHNOLOGY
MYCOTOXINS: BIOSECURITY, FOOD SAFETY AND BIOFUELS
BYPRODUCTS (NC129, NC1025)
MYCOTOXINS: BIOSECURITY, FOOD SAFETY AND BIOFUELS
BYPRODUCTS (NC129, NC1025)
EFFECTS OF FOOD PROCESSING ON FOOD ALLERGENS ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF DETECTION METHODS
KANSAS STATE UNIV
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
224261
CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPARISON OF
CONFORMATIONAL AND LINEAR EPITOPES ON THE TREE NUT
ALLERGENS AND THE EFFECTS OF FOOD PROCESSING
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
224266
POST-HARVEST PROCESSING OF PEANUT AND WHEAT
PRODUCTS TO REDUCE INHERENT ALLERGENS
224342
PREVENTING FOOD PROTEIN ALLERGIC REACTIONS VIA
CONJUGATION WITH POLYSACCHARIDES
0212399
0223848
0224052
224220
Location
UNIV OF CALIFORNIA
UNIV OF HAWAII
UNIV OF IDAHO
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV
UNIV OF WISCONSIN
www.cris.nifa.usda.gov – Search by Accession Number
NANOTECHNOLOGY &
REDUCING ALLERGENS AND
IMPROVING FOOD QUALITY
AFRI Foundational Program
Impact of the Physicochemical Properties of Engineered
Nanomaterials on their Cellular Uptake and Potential Toxicity in
the Gastrointestinal Tract Environment
Dutta, P.K.; Rathman, J.; Waldman, J.; The Ohio State University, Columbus, and Chihae
Yang, FDA (2010-05267)
• Nanomaterials are increasingly incorporated into food ingredients
• Researchers at Ohio State University are proposing that engineered
nanoparticles are modified by the environment of the gastrointestinal(GI) tract.
• Evaluate the size, composition, surface charge, crystallinity, and
surface chemistry/physics of particles after modification affect their
interactions with intestinal epithelial cells, influencing particle toxicity,
bioavailability and tissue distribution.
Influence of Nanoparticle Characteristics on Fate, Bioavailability, and Toxicity
of Food-Grade Nanoemulsions, Xiao, H.; McClements, D. J.; Decker, E. A.
University of Massachusetts Amherst (2010-05266)
Develop
nanoemulsions
with betacarotene
encapsulated
within.
Quantification of
the factors
impacting the
bioavailability of
beta-carotene in
simulated
gastrointestinal
conditions.
Determine the
bioavailability
and safety of
beta-carotenenanoemulsions
in Mongolian
gerbils.
Post Harvest Processing of Peanut and Wheat
Products to Reduce Inherent Allergens; Ahmedna, M;
North Carolina A&T State University
Response Surface Methodology – enzymatic,
physical, and chemical treatments
Confirm Reduction in ELISA
Confirm reduction in clinical trials – skin
pricks
Evaluate sensory acceptability
FOOD SAFETY CHALLENGE
AREA
AFRI
Risk Assessment And Intervention Strategies For The Emerging
Food Safety Threat Of Ochratoxin
PD = Dr. Dojin Ryu Institution: Texas Woman's University
• Aspergillus are ubiquitous & toxigenic fungi that produce ochratoxin A (OTA), a possible
human carcinogen.
• OTA has been found in a wide variety of agricultural commodities including cereal grains,
nuts, dried fruits, spices, meat, milk, & many processed foods.
• Currently, no regulation for OTA in food has been set in the U.S.
Risk Assessment And Intervention Strategies For The Emerging Food Safety
Threat Of Ochratoxin
PD = Dr. Dojin Ryu Institution: Texas Woman's University
Optimization & verification of methods for detecting and quantifying OTA in
foods to obtain reliable data in different food matrices
Determination of OTA concentrations & presence of toxigenic fungi in foods
with a comprehensive national survey
Risk assessment of foodborne OTA exposure (general public & high-risk
populations, including infants)
Development of strategies to reduce OTA exposure from the food supply
through examination of current postharvest practices
Nanoparticle Contamination of Agricultural Crop Species
PD = Dr. Jason White, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES)
• Nanomaterials (NM) are being incorporated into pesticides and fertilizers.
• NM impacts on agricultural plants and potential trophic transfer is unknown.
• This project will quantitatively characterize the effects of NMs on crops, focusing on
processes relevant to human risk. The research team has hypothesized that agricultural crops
accumulate and are physiologically impacted by NMs in a toxicologically significant fashion
with regard to subsequent human exposure.
Nanoparticle Contamination of Agricultural Crop Species
PD = Jason White, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES)
Determine the uptake, translocation, and toxicity of NMs in crops
Determine the impact of environmental conditions on NM uptake,
translocation, and toxicity in crops
Determine the potential trophic transfer of NMs
Quantify the facilitated uptake of pesticides through NM-chemical interactions
Development of Rapid and Versatile Detection Systems for the
Detection of Toxins and
Chemicals on Fresh Produce and Nuts
PD = Theodore Labuza; University of Minnesota
• Develop two detection systems based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and
nanoparticle (NP) aggregation assays
• Can be used for routine, in-the-field detection of toxins and chemicals on fresh produce and
nuts.
• Toxins and chemicals of interest include commercially available pesticides, herbicides,
cyanide, Shiga toxin and many others.
Development of Rapid and Versatile Detection Systems for the Detection of
Toxins and Chemicals on Fresh Produce and Nuts
PD = Theodore Labuza; University of Minnesota
Develop rapid versatile (lab-based and hand-held) SERS protocols for
detecting toxins and chemicals, including pesticides on fresh produce and
nuts
Develop NP aggregation assay for multiplex detection of toxins and
chemicals, including pesticides on fresh produce and nuts
ACQUISITION OF A LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHYMASS SPECTROMETRY TO
ENHANCE RESEARCH ON TOXINS IN FRESH FOOD
CROPS
(Equipment Grant)
PD = Simsek, Senay; Institution: North Dakota State University
A LCMS system, will be used for the analysis of toxins and other
chemicals from fresh crops.
The instrumentation and data generated also will be incorporated into the
education and training of students.
NIFSI & HATCH
Formula Funds/Competitive Funds
Helping Childbearing Women Make Informed
Decisions Regarding Seafood Consumption
Provided with effective educational materials, childbearing aged women will
consume seafood which provides nutrients that will support a healthy
pregnancy while lowering the risks of exposure to pollutants in seafood.
Validate the use of thermal decomposition (gold) amalgamation-atomic
absorption spectrophotometry for the rapid measurement of total mercury in
fish using a fish fin or biopsy plug without having to sacrifice the fish.
To survey for mercury and omega-3 fatty acids in commercially important fish
species across 5 regions in the US.
Develop and compare two educational communication vehicles to change
the behavior of pregnant women.
HIGHER EDUCATION
CHALLENGE GRANT
Education Programs
Advancing Food Allergy Education for Hospitality
Management and /or Dietetics Students using
Storytelling; Kwon, J.; Kansas State University
Improve Student Retention of allergy prevention and management
information
Improve the capacity of faculty to provide effective and updated
allergy prevention instruction
Summer Internships to increase the number and diversity of
students engaged in food allergy/safety research
SBIR
Sequential Injection Enzymatic Assay
for Melamine Detection in Food
Develop a highly sensitive, reproducible, and rapid
direct enzymatic sequential injection instrument
Detect 200 ppb in milk based samples
Rapid Detection of
Mycotoxins
Food contaminated with mycotoxins can sometimes cause fatal
acute illness and is associated with increased cancer risk from
long-term exposure.
To demonstrate the feasibility of using colorimetric indicator based
cartridge to indicate the presence of trace quantities of
trichothecene mycotoxins in grains and in aqueous solutions.
Develop a simple battery operated handheld system utilizing microcartridges without antibodies or enzymes for rapid detection of
tricothecene mycotoxins in grains, other field crops and water.
Program Contacts
• AFRI Programs – Jodi Williams
(jwilliams@nifa.usda.gov) , Isabel Walls
(iwalls@nifa.usda.gov), Jeanette Thurston,
(jthurston@nifa.usda.gov), Ram Rao
(rrao@nifa.usda.gov)
• Nanotechnology Programs – Hongda Chen
hchen@nifa.usda.gov
• Small Business Innovation Research