Microbiological Testing & Analysis

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The UK Animal and Plant Health Agency has reported on certain developments that took place in 2021 that impact food safety regarding whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) will host a virtual open house featuring live demonstrations and presentations on Salmonella sampling and quantification, whole genome sequencing, agency technology, and the National Residue Program.

Scientists have developed a rapid detection method for microbial contaminants in food that can identify the presence of certain pathogens by color in as little as one hour.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) has issued Changes to Accreditation of Non-Federal Analytical Testing Laboratories, which expands the scope of its Accredited Laboratory Program to include microbial and chemical testing.

Researchers at the University of Georgia are developing a biosensor-based rapid diagnostic test for Listeria monocytogenes in food.

There are no set microbiological performance standards for food products, yet demonstrating that hazards are sufficiently controlled is a key component of FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act. For some products, such as canned goods, these standards have been set over many decades of scientific testing. For others, these performance standards have yet to be established, particularly for new, unique ingredients with minimal processing steps. This article explores the history of performance standards and provides guidance on how to establish such standards where currently lacking.

Xibus Systems Inc. has announced the development of XiSafeä, a solution for the rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in food and beverages, and is seeking interested customers for a demonstration of XiSafeä.

A session at the 2022 International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting discussed recent developments in applications of predictive tools for meat and poultry products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) has awarded a contract to bioMérieux to incorporate its non-enrichment quantification system, GENE-UP™ QUANT Salmonella, into FSIS’ laboratory system to conduct Salmonella quantification in raw poultry rinse samples.

The European Food Safety Commission (EFSA) has published guidelines for reporting whole genome sequencing (WGS) data to its One Health WGS System, which will support outbreak investigations and other EFSA activities.