Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** foodborne illnesses are major…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** foodborne illnesses are major public health concerns and the negative economic impacts of bacterial contamination can be devastating. Pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria must be destroyed to avoid cross-contamination of poultry carcasses during meat processing. Many disinfection methods use chlorine; however, by-products of chlorine disinfection (e.g. trihalomethanes) can have detrimental effects on human health. Chlorine-free innovations that promote water reuse have also become critical for water intensive industries, especially in the western US where water supplies are vulnerable to drought and groundwater depletion.micro-tracers, INC., has identified a novel method that safely and cost effectively inactivates pathogens in wastewater. The phase III technology presents an opportunity to reduce chemical handling hazards, improve worker safety and conserve freshwater. Our proposed approach to disinfect poultry scalder water has applications for wastewater reuse and real-time monitoring to ensure the safety of poultry products. The overall goal of this phase III effort is to increase the safety of poultry products and improve agricultural resilience/sustainability of small and mid-size processing facilities under both normal conditions and those when the community and national food systems are stressed.advancing disinfection technology and innovation that improves agricultural sustainability can also increase competition within the poultry industry and help lower barriers of entry for small and mid-sized processors.