Food Safety

1 in 10 people will fall ill every year from eating contaminated food, and 420,000 die as a result, according to the World Health Organization. In addition, $110 billion is lost each year in medical expenses and productivity resulting from unsafe food worldwide. These challenges have placed a greater responsibility on food producers to follow regulations and ensure food safety and quality control is a top priority during production to prevent foodborne pathogens.    

An effective method for foodborne pathogen detection

To improve food control and testing, Pall can provide an extensive portfolio of innovative solutions to help simplify and improve food producers’ microbiological controls. GeneDisc® solutions provide the food industry with real-time monitoring of various foodborne pathogens by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

The high sensitivity of the GeneDisc method enables a short enrichment time, as only a few bacteria are required to generate a result. Combined with simplified sample preparation protocols and a reduced run time, the GeneDisc solution is a high-speed method for foodborne pathogen detection.

All GeneDisc applications use one-step enrichment protocols and minimal sample preparation procedures, drastically reducing operator time per sample while using different food quality testing methods. Ready-to-use reagents also minimize hands-on time and reduce your logistic workflow. Decisions are also simplified by an automated data interpretation by the GeneDisc Cycler.

Pall currently offers the following GeneDisc solutions for pathogen testing:

STEC: Shiga Toxic Escherichia coli:  This GeneDisc system can detect not only E. coli, but it is even specific and sensitive enough to identify and detect only pathogenic strains. GeneDisc® products offer various combinations of targets for detecting pathogenic E. coli that answer user-specific needs and follow the requirements of USDA FSIS MLG5B and European CEN ISO TS 16136.

Pathogenic E. coli O157: All stx, eae, and O157 assays are performed in a single action, with results available within as little as nine hours from sample to results.

Top 6 non-O157 STEC: This solution enables specific detection of the top six non-O157 serogroups (O26, O91, O103, O111, O121, and O145) as well as virulence genes (stx and eae). The GeneDisc PCR system covers the USDA FSIS and CEN EFSSA regulatory requirements, respectively, for the screening of Top 6 non-O157 and Top 5 STEC in food.

Salmonella: Salmonella detection can be achieved in less than nine hours for raw beef meat and in eighteen hours for all foodstuffs.

Campylobacter: Rapid detection of campylobacter in poultry, one of the principal carriers of this as well as salmonella. 

Listeria: Pall has three plates to accommodate different options for Listeria testing:

• A GeneDisc Plate for Listeria monocytogenes for rapid detection
• A GeneDisc Plate ‘Listeria DUO’ for the simultaneous detection of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes
• The GeneDisc Plate’ Listeria ID’ for confirmation/identification of the six types of Listeria in less than 30 minutes: