Testing and analysis help ensure food safety and quality by determining if pathogens, chemicals, or allergen residues are present in the processing environment or food products.
Air and water monitoring involves the monitoring and testing of air and water quality in the processing line of a facility. Test results help determine if acceptable standards are being met for a range of parameters that influence food safety and quality.
Allergen testing seeks to determine the presence of foods or food residues that are classified as allergens in foods or beverages that are not labeled as containing those foods. Class 1 allergens, which encompass the Big 9, are of the greatest concern in allergen testing.
Chemical testing and analysis examine the artificial or undesired chemicals that may make their way into food and water, including those from agricultural practices, food processing, or packaging.
Environmental testing involves the microbiological sampling of food contact surfaces or nearby areas to test for the presence of pathogens or indicator organisms. An environmental monitoring program (EMP) includes pathogen swabbing to detect risk in the sanitary conditions of the processing environment and is a verification of the effectiveness of pathogen controls in place at a facility.
Laboratory management is concerned with the management of testing procedures, control measures for sampling, reporting of pathogen findings, and laboratory accreditation.
Testing and analysis methods include processes and procedures in use or under development for performing microbiological testing, product sampling, environmental monitoring, etc.
Microbiological testing seeks to identify the presence of bacterial pathogens, viruses, and parasites on food contact surfaces, in agricultural water and soil, and in food products. Frequent swabbing to determine if pathogens are present on food processing equipment is an important part of a sound environmental monitoring program (EMP) at a facility.
Sampling programs for food examine a certain portion or product units of a particular lot of the same food as a representative of the quality and safety of the food. Sample prep for laboratory testing involves the preparation of samples for testing.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published testing results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) in foods collected as part of its Total Diet Study (TDS), and has provided an update on the agency’s activities to better understand and address PFAS in the U.S. food supply, including an updated analytical method to measure the chemicals.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have achieved simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in real-world samples, on-site and within an hour, using a handheld electrochemical device.
Most companies no longer have a microbiology lab or pathogen analysis capabilities, which will change the types of rapid test methods that will be in demand in the future
Part 3 of this Food Safety Insights series on rapid testing asks food safety professionals whether the vast increase in outsourcing of testing to contract labs has made rapid methods less useful, or if the methods' ease of use and speed are still important for better management and decision-making.
Metals detection at low concentration in food can be challenging from an analytical perspective and requires suitable guidance in terms of the instrumentation used and methodological approaches
AOAC INTERNATIONAL's metals scientific community has formed a working group to review regulations and requirements for metals content in food, and to update the AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirements for metals analysis. The working group is also reviewing existing methods based on Codex Alimentarius requirements for metals analysis.
To what extent does poultry contribute to cases of salmonellosis, both directly and indirectly, and is there more the industry can do to protect public health?
Reliable test results for fresh poultry are a prerequisite for targeting interventions and improving processes. This article discusses the ongoing needs of the poultry industry regarding testing, methods, serotyping, and other concerns, including changes to the regulatory landscape.
Romer Labs has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (USDA’s FGIS) for its AgraStrip® Pro Ochratoxin A WATEX® test kit, which facilitates the quantitative determination of ochratoxin A in wheat.
Romer Labs has received Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) certification from the AOAC Research Institute for its quantitative AgraStrip® Pro Total Aflatoxin WATEX® test kit for corn and peanut paste.
ImagoAI’s Galaxy for Mycotoxins Test, which the company calls the “world’s fastest” with results provided in less than 30 seconds, has achieved Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) certification from AOAC International.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its new Integrated Food Safety System Regulatory and Laboratory Training System (IFSS RLTS) Strategic Plan 2024–2028, and will hold a stakeholder call on April 2, 2024.
With funding from the Center for Produce Safety, a researcher from the University of Arizona is exploring the usefulness of a handheld genetic sequencing device for in-field microbial characterization of irrigation water by the produce industry.
On Demand:Join subject matter experts as they review getting to the core problem (root cause analysis). The session will include break-outs and case studies to train analysis teams.