Tag Archives: plates

Keeping it Clean with FSMA

j0444789A large part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) focuses on prevention when it comes to controlling our food supply. The steps to preventing foodborne diseases, according to FDA, on the part of the manufacturer, involve evaluating the hazards, specifying preventative steps, monitoring, and correcting problems that may arise.

An aid in reducing hazards is disinfection, cleaning and sanitation. Food Quality & Safety published an article in November 2013, titled “Keep It Clean” that takes a deeper look at the role of disinfectants and sanitizing solutions in FSMA implementation. While there are a few different methods of disinfection, we provide products for chemical disinfection:

Chlorine Sanitizers

Iodine Sanitizers

Quaternary Ammonium (QUATS)

Once a surface has been disinfected, verification will need to take place, which takes care of the monitoring part. A method of verification used prior to sanitation mentioned in the article is adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence. Our Laboratory & QA/QC product line offers a variety of items that can aid in verification: 3M™ Clean-Trace™ NG Luminometer3M™ Clean-Trace™ Surface ATP Test.

According to the article, ATP does not correlate with micro counts, therefore swabbing and the use of petrifilm is recommended. We feature the following items for swabbing and petrifilm: 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plates & Accessories3M™ Quick Swabs3M™ Hydra-Sponges, and 3M™ Sponge-Sticks.

We are a team when it comes to food safety, you can count on Nelson-Jameson to provide quality products that aid in FSMA implementation. For more information on FSMA, see the FDA website.

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A Salmonella Action Plan: A New USDA Approach

bacteria3 (2)In the food industry’s efforts to take on food safety, progress has been made. Yet, so much remains to be done. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) this December in their “Salmonella Action Plan” discussed that: “Salmonella illness estimates have continued at a steady high or slightly increased rate despite FSIS interventions” in the past several years. This new action plan sets up a list of priorities that the agency will actively take on in 2014 to combat Salmonella in meat and poultry products.  You can check out the full report right here.

By upping the ante, it is hoped that the “estimated 1.3 million illnesses…attributed to Salmonella every year” will start to decrease each year by the thousands. Regulatory agencies and food industry producers can be sure that Salmonella will no doubt be a key focus in the coming months  thanks to such measures. So, what can you do in this larger fight? One method of potentially changing the tide is in your hands and the hands of the employees in your operation: quality testing.

Nelson-Jameson, working with 3M, is proud to offer 3M™ Petrifilm™ Salmonella Express Count Plates. This system utilizes 3M Food Safety’s Petrifilm™ technology, an industry standard, and delivers an all-in-one test and biochemical confirmation method in as little as 44 hours. These rapid tests provide your operation with a level of cost-effective, prompt peace-of-mind in assuring a quality product. Along with comprehensive initiatives like the “Salmonella Action Plan,” these local efforts such as testing for Salmonella using 3M™ Petrifilm™ Salmonella Express Count Plates in your operation can help us all gear up and take on Salmonella in 2014!

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