Environmental health initiative to improve food safety in retail restaurants
Official title: Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net) - Practice based research to improve food safety
Funded at Minnesota State Dept of Health · NIH-11238737 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide health program is testing new ways to prevent foodborne illness by studying how to better inspect and manage risks in retail restaurants, led by Minnesota health officials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Minnesota State Dept of Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (St. Paul, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | September 29, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $228,571 |
| NIH project number | 1U01EH001387-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238737 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable for this grant; this is a population-level public health prevention study rather than a patient-specific trial.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not involved in restaurant environments or who do not engage with local health departments may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports field-based work in real restaurants to identify risk factors for foodborne illness and to share findings with operators, regulators, and researchers. The team will analyze inspection data, conduct environmental assessments during outbreaks, and participate in multi-site studies with partners across EHS-Net and CDC. Results will be published and used to improve food safety practices in retail settings. The project focuses on translating observations into practical steps for reducing Salmonella and other hazards in everyday dining environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to clearer inspection practices and interventions that reduce illness from eating at retail restaurants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous EHS-Net activities have informed better food safety practices and outbreak response at multiple sites.
Where this research is happening
-
Minnesota State Dept of Health
St. Paul, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Kirk — Minnesota State Dept of Health
- Study coordinator: Smith, Kirk
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.