Protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s reputation for world-leading food safety

The New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre (NZFSSRC) was established to harness the best of scientific expertise from across industry, government and research providers.

Our aim is to provide an internationally credible science base for decision-making in public health and the food industry. Our work focuses on better ways of detecting hazards in the food production chain and reducing the risk of food-borne illness to consumers.

Consumers

As the Centre develops over time, research outcomes and news items will become available. Advice on food safety can be found here.

Industry Membership

Current NZFSSRC Industry Members include organisations from the dairy, meat, poultry, seafood and horticulture sectors. Their membership provides them with access to world-class, industry-focused research capability in the area of food safety. For information on the benefits of becoming a member of the Centre, click here.

Researchers

The NZFSSRC is a collaboration of seven research organisations, Massey University, the University of Auckland, The University of Otago, ESR, Plant & Food Research Ltd, AgResearch and the Cawthron Institute. The NZFSSRC science strategy is based on a capability matrix. Further information about our science can be found here.

Research | News:

Centre Chief Scientist appointed to ICMSF

Centre Chief Scientist, Distinguished Professor Nigel French, has been appointed as a member of the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (https://www.icmsf.org/).

Laura Biessy talks to Cawthron radio about her research into shellfish toxins

Listen to this radio interview with Laura Biessy, who is completing her Centre co-funded PhD research into the shellfish toxin, Tetrodotoxin, which you may recall killed several dogs on Auckland beaches.

Norovirus article timely

As if prescient, Centre Director Dr Catherine McLeod had just submitted an article to the Stuff science editor about norovirus when news broke of a cluster of infections at early childcare centres in Auckland. The article was published on Monday, and a shortened version posted on their website.