Investigating the fate of chemicals in food animals
Determining the transfer of environmental contaminants into food products such as eggs
Rapid, accurate, and sensitive screening for the presence of chemicals in food animals and food animal products
Development of rapid, inexpensive, and accurate field tests for chemical residues
Mission
The mission of the Animal Metabolism-Agricultural Chemicals Research Unit is to reduce the negative impacts of chemicals in food animals, food animal systems, and food products. Chemicals under investigation may have been introduced into the food supply through environmental (pollutants or natural toxins) or agricultural mechanisms [pesticides, antibiotics, feed additives veterinary drugs, or biologically active compounds (BACs)]. Studies typically investigate how foreign compounds enter food animals and the rates and mechanisms through which foreign compounds are retained and/or eliminated in food animal species. Additional studies are conducted to quantify and rapidly detect chemical residues in edible tissues of food animals. Data generated by such studies are used by regulatory agencies, agricultural industries, and the scientific community to ensure the public a safe food supply.