Environmental Monitoring Archives

Seek and destroy: The importance of environmental monitoring for meat and poultry

The food industry continues to move toward a preventive, proactive approach to food safety. Testing for pathogens in food processing environments allows food manufacturers to identify and eliminate environmental pathogen sources, helping to reduce the risk of food contamination, recalls, and foodborne illness. Pathogen environmental monitoring (PEM) programs are typically used to verify sanitation measures, … Continue reading “Seek and destroy: The importance of environmental monitoring for meat and poultry”

Learn about quality and safety in poultry processing

Whether it be wings, nuggets and sandwiches, and whether it be broasted, baked and grilled. Whatever the form, Americans love chicken and continue to consume more each year. Chicken surpassed pork in the 1980s and beef in the 1990s to become the most-consumed meat in the U.S. It has continued to trend upward in per … Continue reading “Learn about quality and safety in poultry processing”

Method selection: Insist on the one that performs best on your matrices

If you’ve decided that outsourcing quality and food safety tests is the best approach for your business and are now ready to begin working with your chosen lab partner (see more), it’s important to determine which method is best for your matrices. Consider the following when selecting methods with your lab: Insist on what works: … Continue reading “Method selection: Insist on the one that performs best on your matrices”

How rapid-method plating systems keeps food testing quick and easy

When you work in the rapid-turn world of food manufacturing and food safety testing, every step counts. Two food safety technical service specialists show us how simple and easy it is to use 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plates. “Your media is ready to go when you are,” says Cari Lingle, a microbiologist in 3M’s Food Safety Department. … Continue reading “How rapid-method plating systems keeps food testing quick and easy”

Food allergens: how regulations are changing the global food safety landscape

Food allergies are on the rise. Studies show that food allergies are increasing around the world, for both children and adults.1 Scientists are researching ways to reverse or treat allergies, but the only current treatment – besides antihistamines to reduce symptoms – is to avoid consuming specific foods that trigger reactions. Avoiding allergens in foods … Continue reading “Food allergens: how regulations are changing the global food safety landscape”

Look to the future in food safety at IAFP 2019

Are you a food safety professional? Then you don’t want to miss out on one of the most forward-looking events of 2019 – the International Association for Food Protection’s 2019 Annual Meeting, or simply IAFP 2019. This year’s event looks at current trends including artificial intelligence, home food delivery, and emerging foods – like edible … Continue reading “Look to the future in food safety at IAFP 2019”

Testing for indicator organisms and pathogens

Eating fads continue to come and go, and some of those trends bring new safety challenges for the food industry. Locally-sourced food – including gardens inside restaurants — raw smoothies, and peoples’ undying love of cookie dough have led to the consumption of unsafe food. Testing for indicator organisms and pathogens in an environmental monitoring … Continue reading “Testing for indicator organisms and pathogens”

Ensuring high-quality and safe food: monitoring for spoilage organisms and allergens

None of us likes to be surprised by opening a container of butter and discovering it’s rancid. Nor do we enjoy reaching into a bag of apples to find a soft and squishy one. Food spoilage is inevitable for most products, but certain microorganisms can accelerate the decaying process. Improper storage and handling can expose … Continue reading “Ensuring high-quality and safe food: monitoring for spoilage organisms and allergens”

Testing your food processing environment

Food safety experts are shifting their focus from testing end products to ensuring the entire processing environment, including equipment and surfaces, is free of contamination. The old adage – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – has never been truer for the food and beverage industry. Legislation is helping shift the … Continue reading “Testing your food processing environment”

Be proactive with food safety through environmental monitoring

Food recalls have become something most of us have been aware of or impacted by. Everything from peanut butter to cantaloupe to baby formula has made headline news. Terms like E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella are on the tips of the tongues of not only food safety specialists, but also of reporters and the general … Continue reading “Be proactive with food safety through environmental monitoring”