USDA LAUNCHES NEW INFORMATION-BASED WEB SITE ON FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2001- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today launched a new Web site ( http://www.nal.usda.gov/fsrio ) aimed at providing a database of food safety research projects to the research community and the general public. The Web site provides detailed information on food safety research projects, spending, and accomplishments by U.S. Federal agencies, along with links to other important food safety research information.

"This Web site is a tool that researchers and policy makers can use to examine research needs and priorities in food safety," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "The goal is to measure the progress of our food safety research and continue efforts to educate the public about these important issues."

The searchable database provides information on nearly 500 food safety research projects dating from 1998 to the present including research done or funded by: USDA Agricultural Research Service; USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; the Food Safety Consortium (researchers from the University of Arkansas, Iowa State University, and Kansas State University); and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration.

Also on the Web site are:

1. program and planning information, as well as various food safety reports,

2. food safety news and information,

3. and more than 100 links to Web-based food safety research information provided by U.S. and foreign governments, and educational and professional organizations.

The new Web site was created by the Food Safety Research Information Office at USDA's National Agricultural Library with information from related government food safety agencies. The National Agricultural Library, part of the Agricultural Research Service, is the world's largest and most accessible agricultural research library, and the principal resource in the United States for information about food, agriculture, and natural resources.

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