Food Safety Happens in a Vacuum

To date, there is no sampling method that is more effective than the M-Vac System at sampling at line speeds, while at the same time recovering the quantities of pathogens that the M-Vac is capable of. When compared with sponge sampling, the M-Vac has extracted up to six times more bacteria from the carcass surface and is as much as 3 log better when sampling beef hides.

The same need for better sampling and process control tools exists in other industries in virtually the same way. Fresh produce, consumer products, ready-to-eat meats, and processed foods are all areas that will benefit from better surface sampling. Even areas such as DNA forensics, drug residue analysis, anti-biowarfare, and homeland defense are in need of more effective sampling. The exact same sampling principles exist across the board and, when new methods are developed that benefit one area, the others can also benefit.

“If you can see the contamination, you don’t need the M-Vac,” was a favorite saying of Dr. Bradley’s. That holds true for every industry and microbiological circumstance, but it is especially relevant to the food industry. The contamination issues within a food processing facility that can be observed by the naked eye are not usually the ones making consumers sick. It’s the unseen killers that slip through the QA process and sampling and continue on through the food chain, eventually causing foodborne illnesses and product recalls.

Unfortunately, these killers are evolving at the same time the food supply is expanding and becoming more complex. Everyone knows more must be done. The question is: What? Increasing end product testing will, at some point and volume, become counterproductive, because the cost-to-benefit ratio diminishes. We contend that the best way to truly improve food safety is to improve the process control testing, which requires more effective sampling and testing methods during the food production process. That process control testing must start with the M-Vac System.

Over the years, I have met hundreds of food safety and quality assurance professionals from all over the world—and every one of them would cringe at the thought of ever putting contaminated product into the food chain. I am sure that all QA folks, along with most plant managers, lose a lot of sleep worrying about the safety of their product. Based on those I have met, I can assure you that all the people who work in the food industry, from the guy or gal on the processing line all the way to the top executives, the regulatory folks, and every other person involved with the food chain, are good people who have the same goal—good, safe food at a good price. With the introduction of the M-Vac System, those professionals now have another weapon that will improve their ability to wage war against foodborne pathogens and illnesses.

Jared Bradley is president of Microbial-Vac Systems. He can be reached at [email protected].