Laboratories should have quality-control procedures for monitoring the validity of all tests and calibrations undertaken, including the use of certified reference materials.
To combat food safety challenges, quality systems and quality assurance are vital to maintain accurate, valid and reproducible food pathogen testing results.
Detecting the presence of those same spoilage organisms in a food processing environment before they have had a chance to multiply exponentially is not so easy.
As a third-party validation of an individual’s knowledge and/or competency, certification is attractive to employers since it can be used during audits and inspections to attest the abilities of their staff.
3M Food Safety has launched the 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate, an indicator test that enables the detection of yeasts and molds in as little as 48 hours, faster than conventional agar methods. This new plate offers food processors a simplified solution for inoculation along with an easy, consistent way to interpret and enumerate colonies.
3M Food Safety announced on August 28 that its 3M Molecular Detection System has won a bronze Stevie® award in the 2013 International Business Awards. The system, awarded under the category of Best New Product or Service of the Year – Health & Pharmaceuticals, was recognized for being a simple, accurate and cost-effective pathogen detection solution that benefits food processors, universities, governments, and contract testing laboratories.
At a time when food safety breakdowns are costing businesses more than ever, a Lincoln, NE, startup known as Presage Analytics hopes to help food processors track contaminants and prevent costly recalls and outbreaks of illness. The company's software tracks and analyzes the environmental and product testing data that companies already collect, particularly focused on microbial data, to manage and prevent problems that could lead to recalls or foodborne illness outbreaks.