Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
White Papers

Know your Environment: The Essential Role of Environmental Monitoring for Ensuring Food Safety

April 3, 2015

April 7, 2015 was World Health Day--an annual event established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to draw attention to a topic of global significance. This year, the day was dedicated to food safety. In selecting this year’s focus, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, cited the need to “catalyze action to put measures in place that will improve safety of food throughout the food chain from production to consumption”.[1] She went on to note that “food can become contaminated at any point of production and distribution, and the primary responsibility lies with food producers”.

Efforts to minimize the risk of contamination are essential as a single event can have widespread impact. Consider just two recent examples. The 2011 Escherichia coli outbreak--linked to contaminated sprouts--originated in Germany and led to cases in eight countries in Europe and North America and 53 deaths. This outbreak resulted in $1.3 billion in losses for farmers and industries and $236 million in emergency aid payments to 22 European Union (EU) member states.

That same year, a farm in Colorado voluntarily recalled shipments of cantaloupe due to concerns of Listeria contamination. The cantaloupes had been shipped to 17 states and were later blamed for the deaths of at least 33 and sickening another 147--one of the country’s most deadly outbreaks of foodborne illness. [2]

Foodborne illnesses are a threat to public health and the economy. New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that foodborne illnesses cost the economy more than $15.6 billion annually.[3] According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) approximately 48 million people suffer from foodborne illness per year, resulting in about 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.[4] In the EU, 320,000 cases of foodborne illness are documented each year, although the real number is likely much higher due to under-reporting.[5]

Improving the safety of our food continues to be a major focus for producers and manufacturers. The global market for food safety is expected to reach $16 billion by 2020, driven by increased worldwide demand for safer food, availability of new, rapid testing methods, and increased government regulations.[6] The number of microbiology tests performed in the food industry each year is more than one and a half times that of the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry (1.3 billion compared to 800,000), with a higher compound annual growth rate (5.8% compared to 4.5%).[7]

For years, EMD Millipore has partnered with customers in the food and beverage industries to address these pressing challenges, helping to improve safety and minimize risk to consumers while reducing costs. With so many points of exposure, we must enable customers to remain vigilant from the earliest stages of processing through to manufacturing and product release with solutions for indicator organism testing, pathogen testing, beverage spoilage and environmental monitoring. 

Environmental monitoring is used to determine the microbial and particulate content of air, compressed gases, surfaces and personnel. Identifying and addressing contamination in food production is critical since it can damage product, lead to recall, delay time to market and compromise consumer safety. Thus, environmental monitoring is an essential component of any quality control program.

During routine inspections at an nSpired Natural Foods facility in February and July 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) isolated Salmonella from environmental samples.[8] In August, the food manufacturer recalled lots of almond and peanut butters due to potential contamination. The recall was not in time as six people were identified as being infected with the outbreak strain from five states during the January to May timeframe.

Despite the critical role of environmental monitoring, the focus of regulatory bodies has historically been on end product testing. This is changing, however. Updates to the 2011 U.S. FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) are expected to be finalized in early 2015 and will include “preventive controls” that require, when appropriate, food producers to test products and the facility’s environment.

A number of standards encompass environmental monitoring such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and ISO 22000. These standards, however, are nonprescriptive and only describe guidelines for food safety management systems; they do not define what specific actions an organization must take to meet these requirements.

As such, it is left to each company to define their own food safety and hygiene system. To ensure the highest level of product quality and protect consumers, manufacturers and producers should establish best practices for environmental monitoring. Procedures for implementation and frequency of surface, air, personnel and compressed gas testing should be included, as well as documentation, standard operating procedures and training. Existing standards such as HACCP should be used to identify control points and critical control points.

A number of factors should be considered when defining the risk level and the best approach to environmental monitoring. Production zones with the highest risk should be subjected to a more stringent environmental monitoring regime and higher sampling frequency. Zones with higher risk include surfaces that come in contact with the final product, high personnel traffic areas and points in the manufacturing process close to the final filling area, production line or packaging surface.

In addition to where and how often testing is conducted, producers and manufacturers must also consider the overall risk of their products when formulating environmental monitoring programs. Risk is related to the type of product, whether it supports growth of pathogens during storage and the type of contamination that is likely.

The intended use or how the food is to be eaten also determines risk. “Ready-to-eat” products are effectively high risk compared to foods that are always cooked prior to consumption. The extent of product processing also impacts the possible risk to consumers. Properly heat-processed foods should be free of pathogens. However, if heat processing does not happen during final packaging, the product can become cross-contaminated during slicing or cutting and packaging. 

Additionally, the potential risk to consumers is higher among groups such as infants and the elderly, who are especially vulnerable to pathogens. In these instances, environmental monitoring is necessary to confirm that the risk of contamination is low.

The expectation that food producers and manufacturers do everything possible to ensure safety from “farm to fork” is clear. Among our customers, we have witnessed an increased demand for environmental monitoring solutions. It is evident that a more intense focus is being placed on establishing a clean and safe production environment.

When celebrating this year’s World Health Day, it is important to remember that the industry bears a great responsibility to reduce the risk to consumers, around the globe and on a daily basis. Comprehensive environmental monitoring programs in combination with final product testing are necessary to realize this goal and consistently provide safe, high-quality products.

John Sweeney is the head of lab solutions business at EMD Millipore. He can be contacted directly at john.sweeney@emdmillipore.com. Damien Tuleu is the head of biomonitoring business field at EMD Millipore.

References

1. http://www.who.int/foodsafety/en/.

2. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm271879.htm.

3. Flynn, Dan. “USDA: U.S. Foodborne Illnesses Cost More Than $15.6 Billion Annually.” Food Safety News. Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/10/foodborne-illnesses-cost-usa-15-6-billion-annually/#.VM-rRmjF-Ag.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). CDC Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/2011-foodborne-estimates.html.

5. European Food Safety Authority. The European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2013, EFSA Journal 2015; 13 (1): 3991, http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4036.htm. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/foodbornezoonoticdiseases.htm.

6. http://www.prweb.com/releases/food_safety_testing/mycotoxin_testing_market/prweb12324253.htm.

7. Industrial Microbiology Market Review, Fourth Edition: Global Review of Microbiology Testing in the Industrial Market (IMMR—4)

8. Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup Infections Linked to Nut Butter Manufactured by nSpired Natural Foods, Inc. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. October 16, 2014. Web Dec. 2014 <http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/braenderup-08-14/>
 


Author(s): John Sweeney and Damien Tuleu

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Testing & Analysis
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Personal Hygiene/Handwashing
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Contamination Control
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • mold
    Sponsored byIFC

    Tackling Mold Remediation in Food Processing Plants

  • a worker in a food processing plant
    Sponsored byLPS® DETEX®

    How a Beverage Facility Improved Food Safety and Compliance with Detectable Packaging Solutions

  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

Popular Stories

sunflower oil

Louisiana Passes ‘MAHA’ Bill Targeting More Than 40 Ingredients, Including Seed Oils, Dyes, Sweeteners

Raw chicken legs with vegetables on a dark plate

Cases of Salmonella and Campylobacter in England Hit Highest Levels in a Decade

smoked salmon in oil

Study Shows Food Type Significantly Affects Listeria’s Ability to Survive Digestion, Cause Sickness

Events

July 15, 2025

Hygienic Design Risk Management: Industry Challenges and Global Insights

Live: July 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of hygienic design to ensure food safety and sanitation effectiveness.

July 22, 2025

Beyond the Binder: Digital Management of Food Safety

Live: July 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for the use of digital food safety management systems across industry and regulatory agencies.

August 7, 2025

Achieve Active Managerial Control of Major Risk Factors Using a Food Safety Management System

Live: August 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn about changes to the FDA Food Code, which now includes a requirement for FSMS. 

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • environmentalMonitoringExcellence.jpg

    eBook | Environmental Monitoring Excellence: Ensuring Food Safety Around the Clock

    See More
  • woman working on an ipad

    The Vital Role of Power Transmission Belts in Ensuring Food Safety

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

  • 1119258073.jpg

    FSMA and Food Safety Systems: Understanding and Implementing the Rules

  • 1119160553.jpg

    Food Safety: Innovative Analytical Tools for Safety Assessment

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • May 1, 2025

    Avoiding Sanitation Pitfalls: Challenges and Opportunities for Your Environmental Monitoring Program

    On Demand: During this webinar, attendees will learn environmental sanitation pitfalls to avoid, and how to ensure biological safety inside your plant
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • KLEANZ Food Safety Technologies

    KLEANZ Food Safety Technologies is proud to be the leader in software and services for the Food and Beverage industry. For over 30 years, we have ensured that our clients’ Food Safety, Sanitation Management, and Maintenance needs are satisfied and streamlined. We pride ourselves in helping our clients mitigate risk.
  • Puritan Medical Products Co.

    Puritan is an American company known worldwide as the trusted manufacturer of single-use products for the healthcare, diagnostic, forensic, critical environment, food safety, and drug manufacturing industries. At Puritan, we take pride in our unwavering commitment to producing high-quality products. Order with confidence, knowing that Puritan products are manufactured, packaged and shipped from our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Maine. We maintain valuable relationships with many of America’s top distributors and kit manufacturers in order to ensure that all industries have access to our extensive product portfolio.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing