UK Food Standards Agency calls for meat surface contamination research tenders

The UK's Food Standards Agency announced it is inviting tenders for research on the effectiveness of surface treatments in reducing microbiological contamination of meat, specifically burgers and sausage. FSA has identified a consumer and caterer preference for undercooked burgers, which makes contamination by a range of microbiological agents more likely. The project will xamine whether treating the external surfaces of different cuts of beef, lamb and venison with heat and/or organic acids is effective in reducing microbiological contamination. Apply using the FSA electronic Public Procurement System (ePPS) by 5pm on 17 January 2014.