The Salmonella Rapid Culture Method, developed by US company Thermo Fisher Scientific, is said to deliver highly accurate results in fewer than 48 hours compared with up to four days for other methods.
The test, which this week received AOAC Performance Testing Methods status, employs two of the company’s culture products in a two-step procedure. The first step focuses on enrichment using Thermo Fisher Scienftic’s One Broth-salmonella. The second isolation stage involves chromogens in the company’s Brilliance Salmonella product to identify and to differentiate Salmonella species as purple colonies.
Microbiological techniques
"With this method, producers can deliver (food) goods safely to market sooner than with conventional microbiological techniques," said Tom Floyd, president, microbiology products, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Solutions that detect pathogens should not disrupt the production process, and that is why we are committed to delivering technology and methods that are both accurate and rapid. The recent Salmonella crisis underscores the fact that food producers can never be too vigilant," he added.
The recent Salmonella outbreak in the US, which was first associated with tainted peanut butter, affected nearly 700 people in 46 states, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 100 people have required hospital treatment and the outbreak may have contributed to nine deaths.
Meanwhile, last week, the US Food and Drug Administration highlighted a voluntary recall by Union International Food Company of its dry spice products. The recall is based on an investigation of an food borne illness outbreak of Salmonella Rissen.
Retail Outlets
The investigation is being conducted in collaboration with state health officials in California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The company’s products are distributed in these states and Arizona.
The dry spices were sold mainly to ethnic restaurants, wholesalers, and retail outlets under the brand names Lian How and Uncle Chen.
A total of 42 cases of Salmonella Rissen infection have been reported by health officials in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington with 33 cases reported in California.
Preliminary test results links white and black pepper as foods possibly associated with illnesses. The FDA and California officials are inspecting the Union City’s. processing facility and have collected environmental and product samples.