Food Research Institute

Department of Chemistry and Food Analysis

Research scope:

• Research in food safety and mitigation of contaminants generated in the technological processing and storage of foods
• Development and application of analytical methods in food safety, quality and authenticity evaluation
• Innovations in the food industry, functional foods, utilization of unconventional raw materials and by-products
• Building of databases of analytical characteristics as a tool for authentication and of food quality and safety assessment
• Consulting service for food industry and government authorities
• Analytical service (price list - HERE)

Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Research scope:

Study and development of rapid methods for identification of pathogenic bacteria in food based on polymerase chain reaction (Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus sp., Enterobacter sakazakii, Yersinia enterocolitica and others)

Stufy of the microflora of traditional Slovakian food products (Slovakian bryndza cheese, wine)

Study and development of PCR-based methods for identification of allergens in food (walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts, pistachio nuts, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, celery and others) and components of plant origin active in food intolerance (gluten-containing cereals)

Department of Risk Assessment, Food Composition Data Bank and Consumer's Survey

Research scope:

• Operation and maintenance of Online Food Composition Database www.pbd-online.sk
• Calculation of nutritional composition and energy value of food products according to a recipe
• Use of food databases in practice
• Link on the European Food Information Resource network www.eurofir.org
• Collection, documentation and compilation of food composition data for the purpose of creating food composition databases
• Development of advanced software for documentation of primary food composition data Daris
• Concultancy on nutrition data for food producers, professional and general public
• Professional guarantee of projects to promote health and nutrition
• Publishing information materials and articles about nutrition and healthy lifestyle
• Connection
• Management of database of contaminants in food and feed
• Collection and evaluation of data on contaminants in food and feed
• Preparation of documents and  statisitics on food safety issues following the current work of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
• Preparation of opinions  on food safety issues following the current work of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Rapid Alert System of Food and Feed of EC
• Preparation of scientific expertise to formulate opinions of the Slovak Republic on risk assessment on the basis of the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic within the research activities of NPPC VÚP

Out tools and products

• consultancy regarding food composition data for food producers, professional and general public
• calculation of nutrition content of food products for food labelling
• library for the needs of the food industry
• food composition tables
• license to use Alimenta nutritional software and training offer
• license to use database from Alimenta 4.3e Nutrition Software