The JIFSAN research program was established to assist in the generation of new knowledge to support research efforts in furthering the scientific basis for public health policy formulation, evaluation, and risk assessment. The research includes not only traditional laboratory and field research, but also educational, behavioral or social research focused on defining the behavioral determinants that promote sound food safety practices.  The main topics include: Microbial Hazards, Pathogen Detection/Characterization, Risk Analysis, Chemical Hazards, Toxins and Drug Residues, and Applied Nutrition.