TESTACOS+

Innovative solutions to improve the food safety of mature cheeses produced and marketed in the Spain-France cross-border area. Transfer and adaptation of technology to control health risks related to antibiotic-resistant and/or histamine-producing micro-organisms in ripened cheeses.

Acronym: TESTACOS+
Principal Investigator of the project: Rafael Pagán Tomás
Contact: pagan@unizar.es

TESTACOS+ aims to reinforce and strengthen stakeholders in the cheese value chain (from the milk producer to the final producer) by transferring and adapting technology to control health risks related to antibiotic-resistant and/or histamine-producing micro-organisms in ripened cheeses. TESTACOS+ will develop, validate and transfer sustainable and marketable control, cleaning and disinfection systems to reduce the presence of antibiotic-resistant and/or histamine-producing micro-organisms in ripened cheeses in the POCTEFA area, creating an interregional agri-food network of excellence involving collaboration between universities, public agents and agri-food associations/cooperatives/enterprises. The ultimate goal is to boost competitiveness in rural areas through quality, reliable and healthy products, as well as to strengthen regional policies to develop a sustainable and high quality safe food chain.

The TESTACOS+ project has been co-financed 65% by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021-2027). The objective of POCTEFA is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area.