Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has announced the opening of a new $1.65 million Food Safety and Inspection Service Biosafety Level 3 facility in Athens, Ga., to analyze a wide range of potential biological threat agents. The lab is intended to enhance homeland security and protect consumers by expanding the U.S. surveillance system and expanding the ability to respond quickly to unforeseen events, the USDA said. “FSIS has been testing for a variety of threat agents as part of its extensive microbiological sampling program to combat foodborne illness,” said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Elsa Murano in the release. “This facility creates the capacity to test for additional substances and to test in higher volumes when necessary.” Full Story
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