Report on UK publicly-funded research on salmonella: update May 2011

The new report was published in May 2011 and reviews publicly-funded research related to salmonella. The report updates the previous reports published in December 2005 and April 2002, and covers research funded by the members of the MSFFG during the period January 2004 to May 2009.

During recent years there has been a major research effort in the UK, and internationally, relating to foodborne salmonella and food poisoning, which is reflected in this report. This research has led to an increased understanding of the causes and control of salmonella infections in humans, and these findings have been applied to the food industry and consumer practice.

The overall effect has been a decrease in the number of cases of salmonella food poisoning in humans in the past few years.

What is the MSFFG

The MSFFG is a cross-representational body involving bodies that fund microbiological research in the area of food safety. Membership includes representatives from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS), Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Department of Health (DH), Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Food Safety Promotion Board of Ireland (FSPB), Health Protection Agency (HPA), Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC), Medical Research Council (MRC), the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) and the Scottish Executive Department of Health (SEDH).

The group’s terms of reference are: 'To assist the co-ordination of publicly funded research and development on the microbiological safety of the food chain with a view to informing the research and development effort, identifying gaps and overlaps, and providing reports as appropriate.'