Earlier this year, the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate became the first-ever lactic acid bacteria test to receive a validation from a third-party scientific organization when it gained AOAC® Performance Tested MethodsSM designation.

“The undesirable changes lactic acid bacteria can cause may deteriorate food or beverage products and sully a brand’s reputation,” says Marie-Pierre Copin, 3M Food Safety’s European regulatory affairs specialist. “We are happy to give food processors a rigorously validated tool to help their quality assurance efforts.”

The ready-to-use plate simplifies the testing process for lactic acid bacteria spoilage organisms with a self-contained anaerobic environment. Companies can use the technology to obtain accurate results in less time, monitor shelf life, reduce waste, minimize recalls, and improve the look, taste, texture and smell of their products.

The validation for the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate certifies the solution is equivalent to the standard reference methods in enumerating lactic acid bacteria in all human foods, excluding yogurt, as well as in samples from the food processing environment.