As the food processing industry comes under closer scrutiny for its safety protocols, a new test for detecting the E. coli bacterium has been developed by food scientists at UC Davis. The researchers hope the procedure eventually will be used by food inspectors and processors to prevent food poisoning caused by the E. coli 0157:H7 bacterium that recently caused an epidemic of food poisoning in people who drank unpasteurized fruit juices. "We are announcing the development of this diagnostic test now in hopes that it can be put to use worldwide as an early-warning system in combating food poisoning," said test developer Prabhakara V. Choudary, director of the UC Davis Antibody Engineering Laboratory. UC is in the process of seeking patent rights. Grocery stores and other food distribution centers could conduct the simple tests on site. The results of the study will be reported in the January issue of the Journal of Dairy Research, a British scientific publication.