Food Quality & Safety New Products: Aug./Sept. 2017

Biological Hygiene Indicator

In a ready-to-use spray bottle, Indicon Gel provides a visual indication of the presence of biofilm on a wide variety of surfaces that may contain harmful microorganisms, such as Listeria, E. coli, or Salmonella. When the product encounters biofilm, Indicon Gel rapidly produces white micro-bubbles/foam within 2 minutes, providing a quick visual indicator of potential harborage niches that swabs cannot reach.  Sterilex, 443-541-8800, www.sterilex.com.

Pathogen Detection System

The CERTUS System for rapid pathogen detection and environmental monitoring is a bio-contained, in-house solution for small- and mid-sized food processing plants to prevent environmental Listeria. It simplifies environmental testing and monitoring by eliminating media preparation, sample preparation, courier expense, and risk of opening an enriched sample in the plant. Users with minimal training can simply swab a surface, add media to the Bio-Lock Detection Tube, and insert the tube into the CERTUS Detection Unit to start getting results during the enrichment cycle. There is no need for centrifuges, incubators, pipettes, stomachers, bags, or other ancillary items and steps. CERTUS, 872-810-4123, www.certusfoodsafety.com.

Verification of Milk Pasteurization

The ZymoSnap ALP is an alkaline phosphatase testing system designed to verify pasteurization efficiency in short shelf-life dairy products within just 5 minutes. It has been specifically developed to offer definitive and repeatable results, even at low levels (25-100 mU/L). Featuring an all-in-one design and requiring only minimal equipment, the system can be used without specialist knowledge or testing facilities. It allows users to meet their sustainability objectives by being a 100% recyclable test device. The ZymoSnap ALP has been independently validated by Campden BRI. Hygiena, 888-494-4362, www.hygiena.com.

ICP-OES

The Avio 500 Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) is designed for all analytical labs running high throughput multi-elemental inorganic analyses for various sample matrices. It features simultaneous background correction for faster sample-to-sample time. Flat Plate plasma technology generates a matrix-tolerant plasma using only half the argon consumed by other ICP systems. Dual View optical system technology optimizes axial and radial plasma viewing, measuring high and low concentrations in the same run, regardless of wavelength. And Universal Data Acquisition enables simultaneous acquisition of all available wavelengths, helping to reduce or potentially eliminate the need to re-run samples. PerkinElmer, Inc., www.perkinelmer.com.

Transmission Fixture

MicroNIR Transmission Fixture is used for the transmission analysis of liquids and/or thin filters and films. It is one of several new fit-for-purpose sampling accessories for the MicroNIR spectrometer. The MicroNIR spectrometer coupled with MicroNIR Transmission Fixture allows companies to perform rapid quality tests of various products, such as dairy products, beverages, and edible oils. Companies are able to monitor nutritional levels (fat, protein, lactose, sugar, etc.) of beverages in real time with the analysis taking only a couple seconds. The speed of the analysis subsequently allows for customers to realize potential production efficiencies while maintaining optimum product quality. The fixture features an integrated tungsten lamp and can accommodate industry standard cuvettes with 0.5-10 mm path lengths. It also features a filter slot for the transmission of thin films and filters that are up to 3 mm thick.  Viavi Solutions, 844-468 4284, www.viavisolutions.com.

Bioprocess Control Station

The BioFlo 120 bench scale fermentor/bioreactor system for research and development is capable of microbial fermentation as well as mammalian cell culture applications with a single platform. It features a range of glass and BioBLU Single-Use Vessel options (250 mL-40 L). Universal connections for digital Mettler Toledo ISM and analog sensors allows users to monitor a variety of critical process parameters. The embedded software offers real-time local process control through an integrated touchscreen. Eppendorf, www.eppendorf.com.

Software for Direct-from-Sample Food Analysis

LiveID Software is used for near-instantaneous, direct-from-sample measurement and classification of food products, including meat and crops, by Waters’ quadrupole, time-of-flight (QTof) mass spectrometers. The new software enables Waters Xevo G2-XS QTof or SYNAPT G2-Si Mass Spectrometers equipped with an iKnife Sampling device, Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry ion source, and MassLynx Mass Spectrometry Software to help laboratories detect food fraud. Waters Corp., 508-478-2000, www.waters.com.