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New super swift salmonella detection kit
Source
of Article: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Product-Categories/Cleaning-Safety-Hygiene/New-super-swift-salmonella-detection-kit
By Mike Stones, 07-Apr-2009
A
new, rapid detection kit to identify Salmonella species in foods has
received approval from the international accreditation body, the
Association of Analytical Communities.
The Salmonella
Rapid Culture Method, developed by US company Thermo Fisher Scientific, is
said to deliver highly accurate results in fewer than 48 hours compared
with up to four days for other methods.
The test, which this week received AOAC
Performance Testing Methods status, employs two of the company’s culture
products in a two-step procedure. The first step focuses on enrichment
using Thermo Fisher Scienftic’s One Broth-salmonella. The second isolation
stage involves chromogens in the company’s Brilliance Salmonella product to
identify and to differentiate Salmonella species as purple colonies.
Microbiological techniques
"With this method, producers can deliver (food)
goods safely to market sooner than with conventional microbiological
techniques," said Tom Floyd, president, microbiology products,
Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Solutions that detect pathogens should not
disrupt the production process, and that is why we are committed to
delivering technology and methods that are both accurate and rapid. The
recent Salmonella crisis underscores the fact that food producers can never
be too vigilant," he added.
The recent Salmonella outbreak in the US, which
was first associated with tainted peanut butter, affected nearly 700 people
in 46 states, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. At least 100 people have required hospital treatment and the
outbreak may have contributed to nine deaths.
Meanwhile, last week, the US Food and Drug
Administration highlighted a voluntary recall by Union International Food
Company of its dry spice products. The recall is based on an investigation
of an food borne illness outbreak of Salmonella Rissen.
Retail Outlets
The investigation is being conducted in
collaboration with state health officials in California, Oregon, Nevada,
Washington and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The
company’s products are distributed in these states and Arizona.
The dry spices were sold mainly to ethnic
restaurants, wholesalers, and retail outlets under the brand names Lian How
and Uncle Chen.
A total of 42 cases of Salmonella Rissen
infection have been reported by health officials in California, Nevada,
Oregon, and Washington with 33 cases reported in California.
Preliminary test results links white and black
pepper as foods possibly associated with illnesses. The FDA and California
officials are inspecting the Union City’s. processing facility and have
collected environmental and product samples.
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