<p>Unsafe food is responsible for causing more than 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths each year. These foodborne illnesses have direct impact on growth and development in children, food and nutrition security, national economies, and sustainable development. Food manufactures, research institutions, governments, and consumers, together, play a pivotal role in establishing and implementing effective food safety systems. <em>Salmonella</em> spp. and <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> are recognized as major threats to global food safety and security among other 31 known and unknown pathogens associated with foodborne illnesses and deaths. Since these pathogens can be transmitted through contaminated food and water, contaminated environmental surfaces, and subsequently from environment to food via cross-contamination, there is an urgent need for data-driven approaches to identify key points of contamination along the food systems to suggest interventions. While it is important to enhance food safety research in developed economies, developing capacity to enable conditions for food safety research translation and practice in developing economies is crucial for global food safety. In this dissertation, we presented three different research projects as summarized below-</p> <p>In Chapter 2 “Evaluating the efficacy of celery powder in ready-to-eat deli style turkey breast against <em>L. monocytogenes</em> under ideal and temperature abuse conditions”. In this study, we artificially inoculated “clean label” deli style turkey breast formulated with celery powder to evaluate the efficacy of this natural antimicrobial in inhibiting the growth of this pathogen. We stored the inoculated samples at ideal (4 °C) and abuse temperature conditions (7 °C, 10 °C, and 15 °C) for 21 d mimicking the possible temperature abuse along the cold chain, transportation, and at consumer refrigerator. Our findings indicated that although deli meat samples stored at 4 °C and 7 °C did not achieve significant growth of <em>L. monocytogenes;</em> increasing temperatures to 10 °C and 15 °C led to significant increase in the growth rate of this pathogen. This study evaluates the use and effectiveness of celery powder as an antimicrobial used by deli meat processors against <em>L. monocytogenes</em> in deli products. These data underscore the importance of maintaining refrigeration temperatures to complement the efficacy of antimicrobials. </p> <p>Chapter 3 “Investigating sanitary solutions to <em>L. monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica</em> ser. Typhimurium, and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> dry surface biofilms”. In this study, we developed <em>in vitro</em> mono- and mix-culture dry surface biofilm (DSB) models of <em>L. monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica</em> ser. Typhimurium, and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> leveraging the EPA MLB SOP MB-19 standard protocol using the CDC Biofilm Reactor and evaluated sanitation control strategies currently adopted by low-moisture food (LMF) food processors to determine their ability to inactive DSB, a decidedly difficult reservoir to eliminate. This study targets multiple biological hazards in a research area with very limited publicly available data and is the first of its kind to refine mono- and multi-species <em>in vitro</em> DSB models that mimic LMF facility conditions and combinations of relevant microorganisms for use cases (e.g., EPA adoption). The findings from this study indicated that these foodborne pathogens could form DSBs and serve as a source of pathogen reservoir and cross-contamination. Results from the efficacy testing of sanitizer and microfiber swabbing suggested that current sanitation practices may not be sufficient to remove or inactivate DSBs. This study will define future needs and new strategies to improve confidence in sanitation efficacy with private sector practitioners.</p> <p>Chapter 4 “Enhancing research for development opportunities for Minority Serving Institutions: a case study in food safety”. Most developing economies have limited viable food safety systems due to underdeveloped research capabilities, competing resource demands, and insufficient enabling conditions, which undermines food security. United States Minority Serving Institution (MSIs) researchers and outreach specialists are familiar with and arguably best positioned to address global food safety and security challenges and needs, but MSIs implement limited research for development programs (e.g., U.S. university-led Feed the Future (FTF) Innovation Labs (ILs) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)) aimed to solve these challenges. Recognizing this opportunity, the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety (FSIL) led by Purdue University in partnership with Cornell University, created and implemented an MSI-led research partnerships for global food safety research programs. In this chapter, we put together the process of a three-stage Request for Applications (RFA) process, which included non-competitive and competitive stages to encourage partnership and to refine ideas.  At the end of this process, seven individuals were invited to submit full proposals; two were funded. Intentional research opportunities and partnerships are essential to strengthen MSI competitiveness for research for development programs that develop and scale technologies to address urgent global agriculture, food security, and safety challenges.</p>

<p>  </p> <p>Food safety researchers and extension workers are focused on educating the different actors of the supply chain, from farm to fork. To accomplish this, researchers identify areas of improvement and investigate the factors that cause or explain food safety behaviors. This thesis is divided into a systematic literature review with a meta-analysis and qualitative synthesis (Ch. 2), then two case studies that use predictive models to find top predictors of food safety behaviors (Ch.3 and 4). The systematic review (Ch.2) investigates online food safety educational programs and their effectiveness, barriers, and recommendations on different subpopulations of students, consumers, and food workers. The findings showed a limited effect on attitudes in the different subpopulations. Several areas for future research and recommendations for educators were identified. The first case study (Ch.3) developed predictive models of different food safety behaviors at ten time points throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggest an effect between changes in COVID-19 case numbers and how well attitudes related to COVID-19 can make predictions. Additionally, findings suggest the importance of attitudes when predicting food safety behaviors. Lastly, results identified that the belief that handwashing protects against foodborne illness was more important than the belief that handwashing protects against COVID-19 when predicting handwashing at most time points. These findings can identify insights into consumer behaviors during the pandemic and several possible areas for future research. The second case study (Ch. 4) developed predictive models of consumer flour handling practices and consumer awareness of flour-related recalls and how they are affected by the total number of flour-related recalls for a state where the consumer lives. Findings identified the importance of risk perceptions in predicting consumer flour handling practices. Results also showed that younger consumers were predicted to be more likely to be aware of flour recalls than consumers of older ages. Lastly, results show that the total number of flour-related recalls for a state where the consumer lives do not affect predictions. Findings identify potential challenges to recall communication and areas for future studies.</p>

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<p>Poor food safety in informal, open-air markets remains a pressing issue in Cambodia, contributing to both foodborne illness and malnutrition. In order to design food safety programs that successfully promote positive food safety practices among the various actors involved in these markets, is important to understand their perceptions of food safety and of their own capability, opportunity, and motivation for adopting positive food safety behaviors. To that end, this research sought to explore and describe the perceptions of vegetable vendors, vegetable distributors, and vegetable growers in the Cambodian provinces of Battambang, Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh regarding food safety and their own personal capability, opportunity, and motivation for implementing specific food safety practices.  To note, this research was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) though Cooperative Agreement No. 7200AA19LE00003 to Purdue University as management entity of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety. The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. </p> <p>The first portion of the research, which examined levels of perceived capability, opportunity, and motivation for positive food safety practices among actors involved in informal vegetable markets in Cambodia, employed a quantitative questionnaire based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior model of behavior and the Theoretical Domains Framework. A pilot study using this questionnaire was performed with vegetable vendors in the Province of Phnom Penh (<em>N</em> = 55), after which the questionnaire was revised and implemented in person with vegetable distributors in Battambang Province (<em>n</em> = 37) and vegetable vendors and growers in Battambang (<em>n</em> = 26 and <em>n</em> = 27, respectively) and Siem Reap Provinces (<em>n</em> = 61 and <em>n</em> = 30, respectively). To validate the questionnaire, response data from participants in Battambang and Siem Reap were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. The resultant nine-factor model had a comparative fit index of .91, a Tucker-Lewis index of .89, and a root mean square error of approximation of .05. Data analysis proceeded using a fitted general linear mixed model. Results of this analysis suggested that levels of perceived motivation and capability for the target food safety practice were typically significantly higher (<em>p</em> < .05) than levels of perceived opportunity among vegetable vendors and distributors, regardless of location. Levels of perceived opportunity and perceived capability were significantly lower (<em>p</em> < .05) than levels of perceived motivation among vegetable growers in both Battambang and Siem Reap. Significantly higher (<em>p</em> < .05) levels of perceived opportunity and motivation for the target food safety practice were observed among vendors in Battambang in comparison to vendors in Siem Reap; perceptions of all three behavioral determinants were higher among vendors in Battambang than among farmers in either location. </p> <p>Subsequently, a quantitative questionnaire regarding participants’ perceptions of vegetable safety was implemented in person with vegetable growers in Battambang (<em>n </em>= 41) and Siem Reap (<em>n</em> = 28) and vegetable vendors in Phnom Penh (<em>n </em>= 31). Response data were analyzed using a fitted logistic regression model. Nearly all respondents indicated that they were concerned about vegetable safety (overall mean estimate 97.4%, 95% CI = [89.7, 99.4]%), with ≤ 62.7% of respondents in all groups reporting at least moderate concern (lower bounds of 95% confidence intervals 46.2% at the lowest). Across all groups, chemical contamination was perceived as more concerning than microbial contamination (84.9%, 95% CI = [76.0, 90.9]%). The majority of respondents reported that they were familiar with the potential health effects of consuming vegetables contaminated with either chemicals (71.4% [61.5, 79.6]%) or microbes (57.3% [47.2, 66.9]%). Nonetheless, when those who reported familiarity were asked to give examples of such health effects, fewer than 50% (ranging from 7.3% to 48.4%) provided an example of a commonly understood health effect of consuming contaminated vegetables. </p> <p>Both chemical and microbial contamination were most frequently perceived as occurring mainly “at the farm”, regardless of participants’ occupation and location (≥ 76.7%, lower bounds of 95% confidence intervals at least 61.5%, and ≥ 39.3%, lower bounds of 95% confidence intervals at least 21.2%, respectively). Correspondingly, “vegetable farmers’ were most often perceived as having the greatest responsibility for chemical contamination prevention (≥ 51.6% across all groups, lower bounds of 95% confidence intervals at least 34.0%). There were significant between-group differences in participants’ perceptions of microbial contamination prevention responsibility, however (<em>p</em> = .02). With regards to practices intended to prevent vegetable contamination, 22.6% of surveyed vendors in Phnom Penh, 39.0% of surveyed growers in Battambang, and 53.6% of surveyed growers in Siem Reap described at least one commonly accepted contamination prevention practice. </p> <p>Considered as a whole, these findings indicate that food safety practice adoption may be more effectively encouraged among vegetable growers, distributors, and vendors in Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap by emphasizing the importance of microbial contamination and integrating educational components regarding the health effects of consuming vegetables contaminated with microbes or chemicals into food safety programs. Such programs should also address the relatively lower levels of perceived opportunity present among all groups; environmental restructuring-based interventions may be one means by which to do so. Programs for vegetable vendors specifically should communicate that microbial contamination of vegetables is common and highlight the significance of the role of vegetable vendors in maintaining a safe vegetable supply. Food safety programs tailored to vegetable growers could draw on growers’ perception of their own responsibility for both vegetable contamination and contamination prevention as well as their perception of contamination as a common occurrence. Programs for vegetable growers also need to incorporate efforts to address the relatively lower levels of perceived capability present within this group. These efforts could include educational programming or hands-on demonstrations that increase participants’ perceptions of their own ability to implement positive food safety practices. </p>

Les répercussions de la crise économique et politique que le Liban connait aujourd’hui ne se sont pas limitées à ses frontières. Un nombre très important d’individus résidants à l’extérieur de ce pays ont été touchés directement depuis le début de la crise. En effet, depuis octobre 2019, toute personne détenant des dépôts auprès des banques commerciales libanaises se voit refuser l’accès à ces fonds, surtout pour les transferts internationaux. Ces mesures mises en place par les banques commerciales représentent, en l'absence de législation appropriée, un contrôle des capitaux de facto dépourvu de toute légalité aux yeux du droit libanais. Compte tenu de la corruption qui ravage les institutions étatiques et des interférences politiques dans l’appareil judiciaire libanais, un recours depuis le Liban s’avère impossible aujourd’hui pour les déposants étrangers. Ces derniers recherchent désespérément un forum compétent afin d’exercer leurs droits dans l’espoir de récupérer un jour leurs économies investies dans les banques libanaises. De ces déposants, un nombre important réside au Québec. Ce groupe de personnes a subi un préjudice commun susceptible d’engendrer des litiges similaires. Ainsi se pose la question traitée par ce mémoire. En ce qui concerne les déposants québécois, et en considérant les objectifs de l’action collective québécoise, cette procédure pourrait-elle satisfaire leurs besoins d’accès à la justice? Afin de répondre à cette question, plusieurs problématiques se posent. Notamment, la compétence des tribunaux québécois de se saisir de ce litige, la satisfaction de ce dernier aux critères d’autorisation de l’action collective et les difficultés inhérentes à cette procédure dans le contexte factuel particulier. Ainsi, le lecteur comprendra, ce mémoire aura l’aspect d’une étude de cas pratique hypothétique. Toutefois, les enjeux juridiques seront traités en détail et de manière exhaustive. L’objectif principal demeure la faisabilité de ce recours selon le droit positif québécois. / The repercussions of the economic and political crisis that Lebanon is experiencing today are not limited to its borders. A very large number of individuals residing outside this country have been directly affected since the beginning of this crisis. Indeed, since October 2019, any person holding deposits in Lebanese commercial banks has been denied access to these funds, especially in the case of international transfers. These measures put in place by the commercial banks represent a de facto capital control that is, absent appropriate legislation, illegal under Lebanese law. Given the corruption that plagues state institutions and the political interference in the Lebanese judiciary, recourse from Lebanon is impossible today for foreign depositors. These account holders are desperately seeking a competent forum to exercise their rights in the hope of one day recovering their savings invested in Lebanese banks. Of these depositors, a large number resides in Quebec. This group of people have suffered a common prejudice that could lead to similar litigation. This raises the question addressed by this thesis. With respect to Quebec plaintiffs and considering the objectives of the Quebec class action, could this procedure satisfy their need for access to justice? In order to answer this question, several elements must be considered. In particular, the jurisdiction of the Quebec courts to hear this case, whether it meets the criteria for certification of a class action and the difficulties inherent to this procedure considering the peculiar factual context. Thus, the reader will understand that this thesis will have the aspect of a hypothetical practical case study. However, the legal issues will be dealt with in detail and in a comprehensive manner. The main objective remains to determine the feasibility of this recourse within the framework of Quebec's positive law.

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This study aimed to get a better understanding for how packaging design, brand and certifications guide Swedish consumers when choosing between different ecological food products. The study further investigated how brands could use packaging design and a certification strategy as a way to advertising the brand and the food as ecological. By using both quantitative and qualitative methods in form of online survey and two semi-structured interviews, the study got a two-sided perspective on the subject. The results from the online survey collected answers from 100 Swedish respondents during a time period of two weeks. By comparing the packaging design of brands selling only ecological food products and brands selling both ecological and non-ecological food products, the later one more often used typical ecological design element on their packaging. From the survey a conclusion was made that there were a difference between what kind of information consumers wanted and what was important for them when choosing ecological food. Both certification and the word ecological on the package were listed highest regarding what was of most importance when choosing ecological food products and close thereafter was the brand listed. Nearly the same results was given regarding what information was of most importance, but here the brand came after factors such as origin and list of contents. Despite that, packaging design, certification strategy, and brand is still of outermost relevance for Swedish consumers when buying ecological food products. / Studien syftade till ökad förståelse för hur förpackningsdesign, varumärken och certifieringar vägleder svenska konsumenter när de väljer ekologiska och miljövänliga livsmedel. Vidare undersöktes hur varumärken skulle kunna använda förpackningsdesign och certifierings-strategier för att marknadsföra sina livsmedel som ekologiska. Genom att använda såväl kvantitativa och kvalitativa metoder i form av webbundersökning och två semistrukturerade intervjuer, gavs ett tvåsidigt perspektiv i ämnet. Webbundersökningen samlade in svar från 100 svenska respondenter under en två veckors period. Genom att därefter jämföra förpackningens design hos varumärken med hel-ekologiskt sortiment och varumärken med ekologiska alternativ, visade det sig att de senare oftare använde typiska ekologiska designelement på förpackningsdesignen. Från webbundersökningen upptäcktes det att konsumenter efterfrågade olika saker när det gällde att få information jämfört med vad som var viktigt vid val gällande ekologiska livsmedel. Både certifieringar och ordet ekologiskt på förpackningen var högst rankat som faktorer över vad som viktigt för konsumenterna. På denna lista placerades varumärket kort därefter. Liknande resultat gavs för vilken information som var viktigast, dock kom både ursprungsland och innehållsförteckning före varumärke. Trots rankingen så tycks fortfarande förpackningsdesign, certifieringsstrategi och varumärket vara av högsta relevans för svenska konsumenter vid köp av ekologiska livsmedel.

Klimatförändringarna är idag ett av mänsklighetens största hot och om inte världens växthusgasutsläpp minskar drastiskt under de kommande åren kan detta medföra svåra konsekvenser både lokalt och globalt. I linje med detta har globala och nationella mål satts för att främja klimatneutrala samhällen och branscher. Byggsektorn står för en stor del av klimatpåverkan, varför det är viktigt att se över utsläpp från denna sektor. Under de senaste åren har flertalet definitioner för klimatneutralitet i byggsektorn presenterats där samtliga är överens om att detta är en viktig strategi för att minska påverkan från vår byggda miljö. Dock tycks en stor osäkerhet råda kring vad som ska inkluderas i en sådan definition. Detta projekt ämnade därför till att undersöka olika definitioner av klimatneutralitet inom byggsektorn med fokus på ‘klimatneutrala byggnader’. Sju olika verktyg inkluderas i denna analys, vilka utgör en blandning av regionala, nationella och internationella initiativ men med den gemensamma nämnaren att alla utvecklat en egen definition av en ‘klimatneutral byggnad’. En litteraturgenomgång ämnade att sätta projektet i en tydlig kontext vilket sedan följdes av en dokumentanalys av verktygen och en intervjustudie med verktygsutvecklare vilka har insyn i de olika definitionernas utformning.  Resultatet visade att det råder delade meningar gällande val av systemgränser och tillvägagångssätt för att uppnå klimatneutralitet. Samtliga var överens om att förnyelsebar energiproduktion och elektrifiering kommer vara avgörande för att uppnå detta men däremot uppmärksammades olika klimatåtgärder för att balansera klimatpåverkan. Dessa inkluderade framförallt följande: produktion (och export) av förnyelsebar energi, köpt klimatkompensation och lagringsvärde av biogent kol i trämaterial. Dessutom presenterades energieffektivisering i befintligt bestånd, tekniska lösningar för att långsiktigt lagra koldioxid såsom bio-CCS, karbonatisering av betong, tillgodoräkning av en återvinningsdeklaration, återvunnet material och energi samt effektreduktion inom befintlig byggnad. Även systemgränserna skiljde sig åt där detta varierade från att framförallt inkludera det viktigaste och mest tillförlitliga till att inkludera samtliga steg inom byggnadens livscykel. Vidare visade studien på utmaningar kopplat till detta område som framförallt inkluderar brist på data, både vad gäller kvantitet och kvalitet, behovet att inludera antaganden och fiktiva beräkningar och osäkerhet kring framtiden så som elnätets mix och hantering av elektrifiering i byggsektorn. Detta indikerade att det i nuläget saknas konsensus kring vad en ‘klimatneutral byggnad’ är och att det finns utmaningar kopplat till en sådan definition, vilket tyder på att begreppet skulle behöva utvärderas ytterligare. Av den anledningen kan det vara rimligt att fundera på om klimatneutrala byggnader är ett begrepp som i nuläget är redo att användas, eller om det ska undvikas för att förhindra missförstånd. / Climate change is one of today’s biggest threats for humanity and if the global greenhouse gas emissions do not drastically decrease during the near future, this could have severe consequences for the world. In line with these challenges, global and national goals have been developed which aim to foster climate-neutral societies and industries. Since the climate effect from the building industry has shown to be major, it is important to consider emissions from this sector. During the recent years, several definitions of climate-neutrality in the built environment have been presented, which is a strategy considered to be important in order to reduce the climate impact from this field. Therefore, this project aimed to investigate different definitions of climate-neutrality in the building industry with the focus ‘climate-neutral buildings’. Seven tools were included, with a mix of regional, national and international focus, which all have presented a unique definition of a climate-neutral building. To settle the project in a clear context, a literature review became the first step. Thereafter, a document analysis was conducted as well as an interview study with tool developers with good insight into the framing of the different tools that were investigated.  The result showed that the definitions differ in terms of defined system boundaries and actions chosen to achieve climate-neutrality. All of the investigated tools promoted that renewable energy and electrification lay the foundation for the climate-neutral building definition. However, the climate actions presented for compensating and balancing the emissions differed. The presented actions included, above all: production (and export) of renewable energy, carbon offsets, and storage capacity of biocarbon in wood material. Additionally, the tools presented other actions which included energy-efficiency in existing buildings, technical solutions for long-term storage of carbon, carbonization of concrete, value connected to reuse of material and energy, as well as reduced energy-peak demand. The system boundaries differed in terms of inclusion of life cycle modules, from focusing on the most important and accurate stages, to include the full lifecycle of a building. Furthermore, the study identified challenges connected to the definition of climate-neutral buildings. These included, above all, lack of (high-quality) data, the need to use fictitious numbers and assumptions, as well as insecurities connected to the future, including the composition of the electricity mix and how the electricity grid will handle the electrification of the built environment. All these aspects indicate that the term climate-neutral building as for now lacks consensus and that there are challenges connected to this field. Therefore, 2 more evaluation seems to be needed and it might be reasonable to consider if climate neutral buildings as a concept is mature enough to be used, or if this should be avoided to prevent confusion and misunderstandings.

I takt med att sjöfartsindustrin söker hållbara alternativ till traditionella bränslen har LNG och metanol framstått som lovande alternativ till diesel. Denna studie syftar till att identifiera arbetsmiljörisker vid hantering av LNG, metanol och diesel som fartygsbränsle. Genom en dokumentär forskningsmetodik har säkerhetsdatablad, lagtexter och tidigare studier analyserats. Resultaten visar att LNG, metanol och diesel har unika riskprofiler: LNG medför kvävningsrisk och köldskador, metanol är mycket giftigt och kan orsaka allvarliga hälsoproblem, inklusive blindhet och dödsfall, medan diesel är cancerframkallande och kan leda till organskador. Utbildning för hantering av LNG och metanol inkluderar specifika IGF-kurser, medan diesel kräver grundläggande säkerhetsutbildning. Studien understryker vikten av strikta säkerhetsprotokoll och omfattande utbildning för att effektivt hantera dessa risker. / As the maritime industry seeks sustainable alternatives to traditional fuels, LNG and methanol have emerged as promising options compared to diesel. This study aims to identify occupational safety risks associated with handling LNG, methanol, and diesel as ship fuels. Using a documentary research methodology, safety data sheets, regulations, and previous studies were analyzed. The findings reveal distinct risk profiles: LNG poses asphyxiation and frostbite hazards, methanol is highly toxic and can cause severe health issues, including blindness and death, while diesel is carcinogenic and can lead to organ damage. Training for LNG and methanol includes specific IGF code courses, while diesel requires basic safety training. The study highlights the importance of stringent safety protocols and comprehensive training to mitigate these risks effectively.

<p dir="ltr">The gastrointestinal tract harbors a diverse range of microorganisms, collectively constituting the gut microbiome. <a href="" target="_blank">The maintenance of a symbiotic relationship between the host and these microorganisms is essential to gastrointestinal health. Disruption of the ecological balance within the gut microbiome can result in discomfort or pathological conditions.</a> <a href="" target="_blank">This dissertation explores these alterations within the gastrointestinal tract as potential indicators for specific gastrointestinal diseases.</a> <a href="" target="_blank">In pursuit of this, I collaborated with others to develop a smart ingestible capsule that offers a non-invasive method for enhancing the effectiveness of differential diagnosis and treatment strategies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). </a>My contributions encompassed conducting <i>in vitro</i> protein sampling and extraction experiments, as well as enteric coating dissolution tests. Following thorough characterization of the capsule, I advanced to <i>ex vivo</i> sampling experiments. As a proof of concept, the capsule's sampling capabilities have been rigorously validated both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> using calprotectin, a key biomarker for monitoring and managing IBD. Future research may explore integrating this technology with other sensors for diverse chemical and gas sensing capabilities, aiming to refine the differential diagnostics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and IBD.</p><p dir="ltr">Simultaneously, the potential transmission of pathogenic microorganisms from the gastrointestinal tract to the environment through fecal matter can lead to substantial public health implications if adequate surveillance is not in place. These pathogens can contaminate water and food sources from various origins, exacerbating the problem. Furthermore, conventional laboratory-based assays, while effective, have extensive turnaround times and require skilled scientists to operate them. In response to this challenge, I have undertaken the development of point-of-care assays, aiming to streamline the detection of fecal contamination. This innovation is designed to mitigate the limitations associated with traditional methods by offering a more rapid and user-friendly approach. The primary objective is to enhance the accessibility of these assays, enabling on-site personnel with varying levels of expertise to utilize them effectively. Through the widespread adoption of these point-of-care assays, the overarching goal is to ensure the consistent provision of safe and reliable water and food supplies to the public.</p>