Food Protection Trends - March 2010 - 183

Industry Products are significantly reduced while productivity is increased. The system can be easily connected to plant-wide networks using Ethernet, PLC, OPC, or serial connectivity. A fully integrated Cornerstone Beltweigh SA checkweigher can be used to control upstream processes, reducing under-fill and over-fill products by providing automatic, real-time feedback to fillers on trends or out-of-tolerance conditions. Mettler Toledo 813.889.9500 Tampa, FL www.mt.com/pi Research Institute (License Number # 070801) for testing composite samples of raw beef including ground beef and boneless beef trim. Reacting to testing and sampling protocol changes in the beef industry, this third-party validation study was performed with the RapidChek E. coli O157 test system for detection of E. coli O157 (including H7) in composited 375 g beef trim and ground beef samples. The results were compared to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) FSIS (Food Safety Inspection Service) reference method. All samples were confirmed using biochemical/serological procedures as listed in the USDA MLG 5.04 (Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook). RapidChek E. coli O157 was shown to reliably detect E. coli O157 (including H7) in 375 g beef trim samples in as few as 10 hours using a 1:5 sample to media dilution factor and in 375 g ground beef samples in as little as 12 hours. The study also demonstrated the ability to verify RapidChek E. coli O157 potential positive results with commercially available DNA-based methods directly from the RapidChek media system followed by further confirmation with biochemical/serological procedures as listed in the USDA MLG 5.04. Tim Lawruk, SDI food safety marketing manager, said, “With the recent announcements of E. coli O157:H7 contamination in beef products, SDI has been working with leaders in the beef industry and regulatory agencies to understand testing requirements based on new sampling practices and industry testing concerns. The newly improved AOAC-certified RapidChek E. coli O157 test system, which includes improved materials and reagents, is designed to offer several advantages over competitive testing methods, including greater accuracy, faster results, reduced testing costs, and increased confidence in test results. This certification also confirms SDI’s commitment to provide the food market with superior, complete pathogen testing solutions that provide rapid and accurate results.” Scott Coates, AOAC Research Institute senior managing director, commented, “Beef processors and regulators are responding to increasing pressure to protect the health of consumers. The AOAC Research Institute PerformanceTested Methods program supports these enhanced expectations by independently evaluating and validating the technologies that most effectively address E. coli O157 and other food safety outbreaks.” Stragetic Diagnostics Inc. 800.544.8881 Newark, DE www.sdix.com Strategic Diagnostics’ RapidChek® E. coli O157 System Awarded AOAC Research Institute Certification for Composite Testing of Raw Beef Products mproved test strip design helps improve the accuracy and time-toresult of pathogen testing required in the beef processing industry. Strategic Diagnostics Inc., a provider of biotechnology-based detection solutions for food safety and life science applications has announced that its recently improved RapidChek® E. coli O157 (including H7) System has earned Performance-Tested MethodsSM certification from the AOAC I MARCH 2010 | FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS

http://www.mt.com/pi http://www.sdix.com

Food Protection Trends - March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - March 2010