Archive of May, 2024

Objective The RapidChek SELECT Salmonella test system (RC SS) is designed to detect Salmonella species in a variety of foods and environmental surfaces, and is now also validated to detect low levels of Salmonella spp. in palm oil. The test kit permits the presumptive detection and identification of Salmonella spp. in a minimum of 22 hours when the pathogen is present at low levels in food and environmental surfaces. Challenges Method Comparison Study (FDA BAM versus RapidChek) Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028 spiked at 2.5 cfu/25g sample (n=20 per method) + 5 unincculated negative controls. Cultural confirmation of all samples regardless of presumptive...

USDA (FSIS)  reports that Salmonella is the leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States and causes an estimated 1.2 million illnesses, 19,000 hospitalizations and 380 deaths, each year. The data from 2014 estimates that 360,000 (30%) of foodborne illnesses are attributed to FSIS-regulated products, which is a 9.3% decrease compared to 2010. Serotyping FSIS conducted ednontyphoidalSalmonella serotype testing on isolates recovered from raw meat and poultry products, subject to sampling under the Pathogen Reduction Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (PR/HACCP) verification testing program. The results presented here provide an estimate of relative serotype distributions for each product class during the...

More than 3,400 attendees participated in the IAFP annual meeting, in St. Louis, Missouri in July 30-August 3, 2016. The Exhibit Hall was occupied by more than 170 vendors displaying their test kits, equipment, services and information for the attendees. The most popular group of products displayed were pathogen screening and detection, as shown in the figure below. Almost all of the pathogen assays displayed utilize novel rapid methods. Pathogen Testing Detection methods included chromogenic media (powdered media and prepared plates), Immunoassays, and various forms of molecular methods including simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiplex PCR, real-time PCR, nucleic acid sequence-based amplification...

Alfalfa Sprouts Linked to Salmonella Multi State Outbreak CDC  and FDA  report that 30 people across nine states have been infected in an outbreak ofSalmonella reading and Salmonella abony, traced back to Alfalfa Sprouts supplied by Sprouts Extraordinaire of Denver, Colorado. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 21, 2016 to July 20, 2016. At least 30 people range in age from less than 1 year to 72, with a median age of 30. Five ill people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Ill people in the current outbreak reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts on sandwiches from several different restaurants. This investigation indicated...