Sample consistency and quality is vital in food testing, says Seward
Seward’s Stomacher 400 Circulator aims to extract micro-organisms from the food sample matrix and into suspension for testing by the laboratory in the next stage.
Gary Ross told FoodQualityNews.com what the firm does may be niche but it ensures they are focused.
“We can provide the consistency and quality of samples that laboratories need to move down the line. We are step one but there are steps two, three and four which rely on the initial quality of the sample you start with.”
Food safety is top of list
Ross was appointed CEO of Seward Laboratory Systems, the North American office of Seward, within the last few months.
“There are a lot of opportunities in the US if we are proactive with our partners to increase business.
“Food safety is on the top of the list of priorities, especially with the potential insurance aspects [in the US] so food safety levels need to be maintained at a high standard.
“The US imports a lot of its food and it is a world marketplace so it is important that goods tested meet US guidelines.”
Machines are manufactured in the UK and sold through distribution partners worldwide and are suitable for all types of food samples.
The process starts with the sterilized bags, a sample is then put in the bag before the buffer solution is added in a ratio of around 10:1 depending on the weight of the food sample and is then put in the machine.
The laboratory paddle blender maximises recovery by a patented combination of crushing and washing which takes around 30 seconds.
All protocols for the enumeration and identification of organisms in food require the best sample possible to be successful.
Expansion aim
Ross was previously the European Sales Manager for Seward, coordinating European distribution and channel management.
He is seeking to expand Seward’s North American operations and develop their distribution channel for the South American food analysis market.
From traditional microbiology techniques using Petri dishes and broths, to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification systems the quality of sample processing is a key first stage, said Seward.
The firm said its product lines are constructed to survive the harsh environment of manufacturing quality control where 200 - 300 samples may require processing every day.
Seward claims that more than 8m food samples are processed on Seward Stomacher machines every day in 200 countries.
