Microbiological Testing

You Can’t Change the Future by Always Looking at the Past

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0500

I recall sitting in the office one day in the fall of 2018 when I received a call from a reporter who informed me that there had been a further outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 linked to romaine lettuce. After an initial response of “oh, no,” the reporter asked why do we continue to have outbreaks linked to lettuce?

Bakery kill-step validation drives consumer confidence

Mon, 18 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Though the baking industry has a very safe record for the production of shelf-stable food products, Salmonella continues to be a pathogen of concern.

FSNS adds new food testing laboratory in Allentown, PA

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 09:00:00 -0400

Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) has announced the opening of their latest, leading-edge analytical testing laboratory for the food and consumables industry in the northeastern region of the United States.

Mitigating the impact of package leaks

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 09:00:00 -0400

The food industry is undergoing rapid change, much of which is driven by high consumer and retailer expectations when it comes to food freshness, quality, safety and expedience. That’s a tall order for brands to fill while also focusing on innovation and adapting packaging to align with changing retail trends such as e-commerce.

Documentation is key to proving hazard control

shillingr@bnpmedia.com (Rose Shilling) — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:00:00 -0400

Many processors have grown more sophisticated at compiling information and presenting it when inspectors ask for proof that a facility's food safety management system is working. But no matter the companies’ size or record management methods, they likely experience some of the common deficiencies that experts see.

Cannabis testing is an exact science - regulations are not

labsw@bnpmedia.com (Wayne Labs) — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400

In the U.S., there are 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, with some form of legal cannabis for medicinal purposes, and 10 states that allow it for recreational use. However, when it comes to specifying the level of THC, CBD, terpenes and the other 80 or so constituent components in cannabis, there's a smorgasbord of rules and regulations.

Top 10 convenience store food safety challenges: How to mitigate risks

Fri, 10 May 2019 09:00:00 -0400

Convenience stores are evolving to offer a wider array of fresh food options and prepared meals than ever before.

Study: Growth in dairy testing market driven by stringent food safety regulations

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:27:00 -0400

The dairy testing market is projected to reach a value of $5.89 billion by 2022, according to a report published by MarketsandMarkets, New York.

AFFI unveils online program for Listeria control in frozen food facilities

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 10:00:00 -0500

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), Arlington, Va., unveiled the Food Safety Zone, a one-stop food safety resource for all frozen food companies.

FSNS adds new food testing laboratory in Greeley, Colorado

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0500

FSNS has announced the opening of their latest, leading-edge analytical laboratory for the food and consumables industry in the central region of the United States.

Environmental monitoring: stay ahead of food safety risks with continuous improvements

eowens@birkocorp.com (Dr. Elis Owens) — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 15:58:00 -0500

Food safety does not end with the creation of a documented plan. It must be an ongoing effort, especially in processing facilities producing ready-to-eat (RTE) products, where product contamination may lead to public health risks, costly recalls and reputation damage.

Automated microbiological testing helps speed up determining if food is safe

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 09:00:00 -0400

When it comes to pathogen testing, processors must choose from a number of processes, as well as whether the work will be done in-house or through a contract laboratory.

Study: Pathogen testing to lead global food safety testing market by 2025

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 08:00:00 -0400

Increasing cases of foodborne illnesses due to food contamination and rising consumer inclination toward better quality and safe food are expected to fuel the demand for pathogen testing in the global food safety testing market by the end of forecast period, according to a report published by Allied Market Research, Portland, Ore.

Study: Food safety testing market worth $18.54B by 2022

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 07:10:00 -0400

The food safety testing market was valued at $12.01 billion in 2016, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.60% from 2017, to reach $18.54 billion by 2022, according to a study produced by MarketsandMarkets, New York.

Can genomics advance pre-harvest intervention strategies?

mpgrini03@yahoo.com (Megan Pellegrini) — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 10:59:00 -0400

Researchers are harnessing a still-developing field of study, microgenomics, to limit pathogens in the pre-harvest stage of cattle, while common sense methods are still being used to protect poultry.

Mock norovirus outbreak at Food Safety Summit infects 202 people in one day

lindellc@bnpmedia.com (Crystal Lindell) — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:21:00 -0400

The first outbreak started at the evening reception when the exhibit hall opened, and its Patient Zero was Chip Manuel from Diversey, which ended up infecting 202 people in total.

Seek & destroy food safety practices in ready-to-eat food plants

Thu, 17 May 2018 10:00:00 -0400

Certified Laboratories discusses food safety practices designed to seek and destroy listeria and other foodborne pathogens in ready-to-eat food processing facilities.

Address Listeria testing challenges

canningk@bnpmedia.com (Kathie Canning) — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0400

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1,600 Americans get listeriosis each year, and about 260 of them die. The infection typically is caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

Clemson researchers working on packaging that detects food spoilage

lindellc@bnpmedia.com (Crystal Lindell) — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:00:00 -0400

The next innovation in food and beverage packaging could tell you when that cheese in the back of the fridge is getting too old to eat.

Expect substantial, rapid food-safety advancement to continue

stevens@foodindustrycounsel.com (Shawn Stevens) — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 11:28:00 -0500

There have been substantial changes in recent years in food-safety science, technology, regulation and enforcement.

AFFI unveils validation resource for listeria prevention

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 10:01:00 -0500

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), McLean, Va., launched “How to Validate a Blancher,” a unique tool designed exclusively for the frozen food industry.

Regulations, recalls drive food safety testing market

lindellc@bnpmedia.com (Crystal Lindell) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:21:00 -0500

Moore foodborne illness outbreaks, technological advancements, strict regulations and globalization are all driving growth in the global food safety testing market.

The impact of Peanut Corporation of America's criminal convictions

schugd@bnpmedia.com (Debra Schug) — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 10:14:00 -0500

Why food and beverage companies and executives should ensure that food safety is a part of their corporate culture.

[Video] How to combat heat resistant bacteria

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 11:45:00 -0500

Editor-in-chief Andy Hanacek spoke with We R Food Safety! consultant Molly Linden about heat resistant bacteria and how producers can work to reduce instances of heat resistant bacteria while putting in procedures to deal with it if it occurs.

[Video] How heat resistant bacteria forms

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Editor-in-chief Andy Hanacek spoke with We R Food Safety! consultant Molly Linden about heat resistant bacteria and what the biggest pitfalls are for producers.

Prerequisite programs ensure food safety

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:00:00 -0500

In 1995, the seafood HACCP regulation was enacted in the US and marked a major milestone in the history of food safety.

New technique detects impurities in ground beef within minutes

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 11:00:00 -0500

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, have found a better way to identify unwanted animal products in ground beef.

Rapid advancement in rapid testing

eafuhrman@hotmail.com (Elizabeth Fuhrman) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Faster PCR methods, better culture methods, more selective enrichment methods and quantitative biosensor methods all have advance the field of rapid pathogen testing recently.

Researchers explore solutions to food waste with USDA-funded project

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:16:00 -0400

Researchers from W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, Ariz., will explore solutions to food waste through two unique research projects funded by the USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.

DNA-based analysis helps break down complex food samples

Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:36:00 -0400

A new method of food analysis can break down complex samples to identify exactly what is in them.