Tomato Stem Scar and Tissue Removal

    Develop a simple and practical means of aseptically removing the stem scar and underlying tomato tissue quickly and efficiently from tomatoes. 

Background

    Ensuring the safety of the food supply continues to be a top priority for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Research is a critical element of the agency’s efforts to improve the safety of fresh produce.  FDA’s current research agenda is focused on improving the identification and detection of disease-causing bacteria and toxins in a variety of foods.   More rapid and precise testing methods to identify contaminants are important for detecting contamination if it is present and, if contamination does occur, minimizing the spread of foodborne disease once it occurs.

    Produce can become contaminated at many different steps – on the farm, in packing, processing or distribution facilities, during transit, at retail and food service establishments, and in the home.  In addition, because most produce is grown in an outdoor environment, it is vulnerable to contamination from pathogens that may be present in the soil, in agricultural or processing water, in manure used as fertilizer, or due to the presence of animals in or near fields or packing areas.

    More specifically, tomato microbial (Salmonella) contamination may occur predominantly in the field. Recent research indicates that the stem scar and internal area immediately beneath the stem scar of a tomato may be site of heaviest contamination. Some Salmonella contamination may be internal to the tomato and some may be external.

    Currently, FDA laboratories test the tomatoes for contamination by soaking the whole tomato in enrichment broth. This requires large volumes of broth and limits the number of tomatoes that can be tested. There is a need to greatly improve efficiency in culturing Salmonella from tomatoes.

Problem Statement

    Develop a simple and practical means of aseptically removing the stem scar and underlying tomato tissue quickly and efficiently from tomatoes. 

Design Considerations

    Your proposed tool can be either a sharpened hand held tool that is operated manually or mounted on a motorized or mechanically operated platform.  The tool must be able to process a large volume of tomatoes and be capable of being pre-sterilized and/or sterilized in between samples, since contaminates cannot be carried from one tomato sample to the next. The part of the tool that touches the tomato and removes the tomato tissue must be constructed using a grade of stainless steel that will be impervious to the acid in the tomato and to the heat or chemical agents used to sterilize the device in between samples.

The device must:

·       Be able to process at least 40 - 60 tomato samples per hour;

·       Be able to perform consistent sampling;

·       Be able to sterilize the tool between samples or provide a sufficient number of pre-sterilized tools such that a laboratory could process a large number (100s) of tomato samples in a day;

·       Be reasonably easy to use/maintain;

·       Be innovative;

·       Be cost effective;

·       Address safety considerations; and

·       Include a marketing strategy and outreach plan.

Evaluation Criteria

    Each team is advised to read the Participation Guide for a comprehensive understanding of the contest evaluation criteria.  Upon your registration, WERC will provide you with a copy of the Public Involvement Plan and Participation Guide.  Additionally, your proposed design will be evaluated on issues identified in the problem statement as well as others listed here.

·       Originality;

·       Ease of use/maintainability;

·       Reliability;

·       Affordability;

·       Innovative;

·       Potential for real-life use and implementation;

·       Cost effective operation; and

·       Functionality and operability for large volume.

Bench-Scale Demonstration

    During the design contest, WERC will provide each team with a number of tomatoes (to be determined at a later date) and the teams will have a limited time frame (to be determined at a later date) to return the samples for evaluation.  Teams must demonstrate that their proposed tool can effectively and efficiently provide a means to aseptically remove the stem scar and underlying tomato tissue.  Teams must demonstrate the proposed sterilization process in-between samples.

Written Report Requirements

   The written report is the first presentation of your team’s proposed solution. The report should give the reader a full understanding of the magnitude of your team’s involvement with the problem details.  The report will be evaluated for clarity, logic, coherence and quality.  Standards appropriate for publications in technical journals apply. 

    In addition to the listed requirements, the following must be discussed in your written report: 

•     Describe selection process in detail including cost/benefit consideration, evaluation criteria, and screening protocol;

• Discuss advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the selected tool and other options considered;

• Discuss possible sterilization methods;

• Include recent references and sources of information;

• Address any safety issues or considerations associated with the process; and

• Include a marketing strategy and outreach plan.

For More Information

Contact:
Barbara Valdez, Program Facilitator
(575) 646-7821
(800) 523-5996