The Allergen Lab Revolution

These self-contained, hand-held, highly sensitive protein tests are designed to detect residues to a level as low as 3 g or .01 parts per million. After equipment sanitization, the swab lifts any protein residuals and alerts the facility if any allergen presence remains. Its technology utilizes chemicals such as adenosine triphosphate to evaluate equipment surfaces as well as rinse water, raw material, and end products for signs of carryover. Taking only 10 minutes to evaluate and process samples, allergen swabs are particularly useful tools that can provide real-time results virtually anywhere.

Food Defense

Faster lab technology is partly driven by food defense. This post-production, post-lab process is a weighty contributor to the quality assurance and safety of the U.S. food supply. Food manufacturers and, ultimately, the science industry overall, play a significant role in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service approach to addressing food defense. The three-pronged approach is divided as such: preparation and prevention, surveillance, and response. Mandatory preventative measures commonly include requisite, specific levels of seal strength to improve tamper resistance.

Furthermore, many policies and procedures are being reclassified and expanded upon—such as the National Center for Food Safety and Technology and newly formed Institute for Food Safety and Health—to better address this national issue. Manufacturing companies are looking at more rigorous and robust protocols to be applied once the product leaves its facility, specifically targeting the categories of tag seals and tamperproof boxes. Food defense scientists are developing applications that allow boxed products to disintegrate, shred, and/or turn a different color when packaging is breached illegally. Instead of focusing on the uncontrollable, utilize advancements in lab technology to minimize risks that can be controlled, those that affect quality and safety.

Global Audits

Most likely, the allergen and recall revolution will continue to grow throughout the global food industry as more regulations like the Food Safety Modernization Act increase the emphasis on product integrity and technological advancements. In turn, these technological advancements also focus more attention on the need for improved audit integrity. Instead of obtaining individual certifications—such as AIB sanitation and pest control, or GMA [Grocery Manufacturers Association]-safe traceability and manufacturing practices—the food safety industry is looking to create a global standard method, auditing all aspects of the process all the way down to documentation.

Forward-thinking companies and food brands are completing certifications with organizations such as the Safe Quality Food Institute, International Organization for Standardization, and British Retail Consortium to set better management systems in motion.

While post-production testing with allergy swabs, food defense, and global audit regulations are important and legitimize safety, allergen and bacteria management should be customary in food quality systems for high-quality assurance and speedy test results. The next steps are all but spelled out for the industry. Better management using the latest detection and testing technology, coupled with a streamlined and comprehensive global auditing standard, must be instituted to match current risks and regulations. n

Regina Weaver, director of quality assurance for Coalescence, has been in the food science and QA industry for more than 17 years. Before joining Coalescence, she developed her laboratory expertise in Columbus, Ohio, with Abbott Laboratories, Anheuser-Busch, and Cargill. Weaver can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (614) 794-2008.