NZFSSRC
Profile: New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre
Prior to the cataclysm of Covid-19, you could summarise the main aim of the NZ Food Safety Science & Research Centre (NZFSSRC) thus: to develop research to help industry find, trace, and kill bacteria – those familiar food safety foes - Campylobacter spp, E.coli, Listeria spp, Salmonella spp. Come March 2020, working from her lockdown locus in Nelson, Centre Director Dr Catherine McLeod had to urgently assess any potential risk of people catching the Covid-19 virus from food and drink, or food handlers and workplaces. Dr McLeod has had experience on all sides of the food safety triangle – industry, science and government. She took over from the inaugural director, Distinguished Professor Nigel French, last September. Nigel is now Chief Science Advisor and served on the government’s Covid-19 technical advisory committee. He is an expert in zoonotic disease. New Zealand Incorporated, now with a giant crater in its economy where tourism used to be, was desperate to get the Autumn kiwifruit and other harvests in. Abattoirs were under pressure as droughts deepened, waiting lists lengthened, and awkward 2m distancing rules had to be enforced. Just one outbreak associated with a pack-house or abattoir could have shut down the whole operation. Advising companies how to manage the Covid-19 risk became allconsuming and covered a broad spectrum of concerns.
About the Centre The NZ Food Safety Science & Research Centre, which is exactly what it says it is, changed operating models in 2019. It is now a member organisation, and at last count had 17, spanning all significant food sectors. Membership fees are scaled to be affordable for small companies and industry groups.
Benefits of membership One of the main benefits of membership is access to government research funding (40% for projects that meet research criteria,
NZFSSRC Director, Dr Catherine McLeod
Collier Isaacs is the new Chair of the NZFSSRC Board
Still no evidence of foodborne transmission Together with researchers at ESR, led by Dr Rob Lake, the Centre examined the welter of evidence coming out of Asia and Europe. No one could afford complacency, even though there was no evidence
with no charge for set-up and administration). The opportunity to join other companies and industry sectors on projects of mutual benefit makes the research even more affordable. And there are many other good reasons for clubbing together in a small country, where companies share responsibility for, and enjoy, the trading advantages of the high-value New Zealand brand.
Dr Vivienne Hunt, The Centre has established an NZFSSRC industry Industry Advisory Group so that account manager research projects chime with industry needs and priorities. Individual members are welcome to propose research ideas themselves, directly to Catherine and industry account manager, Dr Vivienne Hunt. It’s a very user-friendly Centre. The advisory group is currently galvanising industry-wide support across a number of areas of shared concern, ranging from Covid-19, to chemical leachates from recycled packaging, and other environmental contaminants.
August/September 2020
19
