Infected Cantoloupes.

People are asking how the cantoloupes are getting contaminated with listeria. Some experts are saying hard to clean machinery, stagnant water on the floor, and failure to cool newly harvested cantaloupe before sending them to cold storage caused the outbreak. Our team believes it all began with infected cantoloupes. Listeria thrives in soil and water, and feeds on decaying roots alowing it to get in the cantoloupes. Then the listeria on the cantoloupe got on to the hard to clean machines. So instead of cleaning the cantoloupes it contaminated them. This is how we think the cantoloupes are getting infected with listeria.

Detection Methods



(VIDAS Listeria Xpress (LSX), an automated test for detection of Listeria)

The AOAC International has approved the use of an automated test machine (LSX) for fast detection of Listeria species. In less than 30 hours a specific enrichment broth boosts the growth of Listeria. This is faster than most automated methods. Our team proposes that the LSX should be used in every dairy, fruit, and meat distribution factories to ensure that there's no listeria in any of these products.

Food Factor Challenge

Can FIRST® LEGO® League teams improve the quality of food by finding ways to prevent food contamination? In the 2011 Food Factor Challenge, over 200,000 9-16* year olds from over 55 countries will explore the topic of food safety and examine the possible points of contamination our food encounters – from exposure to insects and creatures, to unsterile processing and transportation, to unsanitary preparation and storage – then find ways to prevent or combat these contaminates. In the Food Factor Challenge, teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT to solve a set of Food Safety missions as well as research, develop, and share their innovative food safety solutions. Throughout their experience, teams will operate under FLL’s signature set of Core Values.