Tracking antibiotic-resistant bacteria in California grocery meat and seafood
Continue the NARMS retail food surveillance in the state of California
This project tracks antibiotic-resistant germs in store-bought meat and seafood across California to help keep consumers safer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11378232 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We buy meat and seafood from grocery stores across California every month and test samples for bacteria that can make people sick, such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Vibrio, and Aeromonas. Lab teams grow the bacteria, test which antibiotics they resist, and perform whole-genome sequencing to understand genetic links. Isolates and sequence data are shared with national databases, and researchers analyze trends by location, season, product type, and production claims like organic. The results help public health officials spot emerging resistant strains and inform food safety actions to protect consumers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is most relevant to people who buy or eat meat and seafood in California and to clinicians and public health professionals who manage foodborne infections.
Not a fit: People with infections unrelated to food exposure or those living outside California are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help reduce foodborne illness and slow the spread of antibiotic resistance by giving public health teams earlier warnings and better evidence to act on contaminated foods.
How similar studies have performed: The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) and other retail food surveillance programs have a track record of detecting resistance patterns and informing public-health responses.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Xunde — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Li, Xunde
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 below.