FDA awards $1 million grant to U of I researchers to study resistant bacteria in meat, seafood

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - Raw meats sometimes carry harmful bacteria that can be especially harmful to our health. Researchers from the University of Illinois received a major grant to monitor meat products for resistant bacteria.

The Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) said that researchers received a $1 million grant from the FDA to participate in a retail surveillance program.

The program will support the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), which works with the USDA, FDA and CDC to monitor antimicrobial resistance.

Researchers will collect poultry, meat and seafood samples twice a month from various stores across the state and test them for foodborne bacteria, according to Illinois ACES.

Meat products, including chicken, pork and beef, are significant sources of these types of bacteria.

Illinois ACES stated that the team is focused on strengthening retail food antimicrobial resistance nationwide and protecting public health.

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