Strengthening Mississippi’s Integrated Food Safety System by Enhancing Chemical Testing Capabilities - Overall Project Summary The Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory (MSCL) is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited (No. 90603) and operates as both a state regulatory agency and a fee-for-service laboratory. MSCL ensures the quality and safety of human foods, animal feeds, fertilizers, pesticide formulations, agricultural limes, and petroleum products sold in Mississippi. Building on achievements from initial FDA Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) support, MSCL seeks to further expand its analytical scope and strengthen partnerships with federal and state entities, thereby enhancing the state’s capacity to identify and mitigate chemical contaminants in food and feed. This proposal, “Strengthening Mississippi’s Integrated Food Safety System by Enhancing the Chemical Testing Capabilities,” submitted in response to FOA RFA-FD-25-007, aims to further expand MSCL’s capacity. The long-term objectives of this proposal include bolstering surveillance for emerging food and feed contaminants, reinforcing laboratory infrastructure to maintain high-quality analytical services, and promoting collaborative partnerships among state and federal agencies. In line with these objectives, MSCL has identified three specific aims: 1. Expand both compounds of interest and matrices in currently accredited methods to detect a broader range of emerging contaminants and toxins in food and feed. By enhancing instrument sensitivity and optimizing workflows, MSCL will improve sample throughput and efficiency, ultimately supporting proactive surveillance and quicker response times. 2. Strengthen laboratory infrastructure by investing in advanced equipment, staff training, and quality assurance measures to maintain and elevate MSCL’s capacity for high-quality analyses. These efforts will provide robust data to inform regulatory actions and protect agricultural interests within the state. 3. Enhance collaborative partnerships by participating in multi-laboratory proficiency testing, engage with peer laboratories to exchange best practices, and maintain close coordination with state and federal entities for joint investigations, leading to rapid identification and mitigation of contamination incidents to foster a safer, more integrated food safety system. To achieve these goals, MSCL will implement a research plan that includes participating in proficiency testing and performing analysis of emerging contaminants in samples in preparation for food defense. Staff will receive ongoing training with peer laboratories to ensure consistent application of best laboratory practices. Through these strategies, MSCL will strengthen its role as a partner in the integrated food safety framework, providing faster, more reliable chemical testing results that protect both human and animal health against evolving food and feed safety threats.
