Improving produce safety compliance in Virginia.
Official title: Path C Maintaining the Produce Safety Program at VDACS under Path C to Enhance Produce Safety and Achieve High Rates of Compliance with the FDA's Produce Safety Rule.
Funded at VA St Dept/ Agriculture & Consumer Srvs · NIH-10886608 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making sure that farms in Virginia are following safety rules to keep our fruits and vegetables safe to eat, and it involves teamwork between the FDA, state agriculture officials, and Virginia Tech to check on farms and help them meet these standards.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA St Dept/ Agriculture & Consumer Srvs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $684,333 |
| NIH project number | 5U2FFD007427-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10886608 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include consumers of fresh produce, particularly those in Virginia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume fresh produce or live outside of Virginia may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on maintaining and enhancing the produce safety regulatory program in Virginia, ensuring that farms comply with the FDA's Produce Safety Rule. It involves collaboration between the FDA, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), and Virginia Tech to conduct inspections and enforce safety standards for growing, packing, and distributing produce. The program aims to achieve high compliance rates, which will ultimately promote safer fruits and vegetables for consumers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer produce for consumers, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is focused on regulatory compliance, similar initiatives in food safety have shown success in improving public health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
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VA St Dept/ Agriculture & Consumer Srvs
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bungo, Erik Ashley — VA St Dept/ Agriculture & Consumer Srvs
- Study coordinator: Bungo, Erik Ashley
Related research
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Enhancing Vet-LIRN capacity to rapidly detect pathogens in Virginia
This grant helps Virginia's animal health lab improve fast, accurate pathogen detection in animals, feeds, and related products to support safer animal and public health.
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Improving food safety standards in Virginia.
This study is all about making sure the food you eat in Virginia is safe by improving the rules and inspections that keep it that way, so you can enjoy your meals without worrying about getting sick.
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Improving rapid response to food and animal feed emergencies in Virginia
This study is all about helping the Virginia Rapid Response Team work better together to handle food and animal feed emergencies, so they can keep everyone safe from foodborne illnesses.
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.