1
                                                                   Exhibit 23.1








                               Consent of KPMG LLP


To Board of Directors
Northfield Laboratories Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements (Nos.
333-15877, 333-51681, and 333-79579) on Form S-8 of Northfield Laboratories Inc.
of our report dated July 2, 2001, relating to the balance sheets of Northfield
Laboratories Inc. as of May 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related statements of
operations, shareholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years
in the three-year period ended May 31, 2001 and for the cumulative period from
June 19, 1985 (inception) through May 31, 2001, which report appears in the May
31, 2001 annual report on Form 10-K of Northfield Laboratories Inc.


/s/ KPMG LLP



Chicago, Illinois
August 2, 2001