Salmonella analysis detection secret: one-day screening that is quick, accurate, and inexpensive.
Why is it critical to detect foodborne germs accurately?
Salmonella analysis detection secret: one-day screening that is quick, accurate, and inexpensive.
Dr Daniele Sohier, Senior Manager, Global Scientific Affairs – Food Protection at Thermo Fisher Scientific, talks about how her team is helping to combat foodborne pathogens by developing state-of-the-art workflows for easy and fast Salmonella analysis spp. detection, with same-day results for fresh food products, in this exclusive interview. Sohier has coordinated more than 100 validation studies of alternative methods in food microbiology thanks to her many responsibilities over the past 20 years, and she has received accolades from AOAC International for her work on the identification of a number of disruptive innovations.
Why is it critical to detect foodborne germs accurately?
DS: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 600 million cases of foodborne infections occur each year, resulting in 40,000 fatalities. These figures correspond to regional food safety regulators’ estimates. For example, according to the US FDA, one out of every six Americans is affected by foodborne infections each year, resulting in more than 120,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 fatalities. Each year, the European Union reports more than 91,000 salmonellosis cases, resulting in an estimated annual economic burden of €3 billion.
These figures are quite useful in determining the societal Listeria Analysis impact. However, there is no such thing as zero risk. Food safety authorities are adopting an integrated approach from farm to fork in order to develop adequate control measures.
What role do Salmonella analysis serovars play in animal and plant-based diets, and how can a better understanding of their global epidemiology help manage and monitor this bacterium?
Salmonella analysis zoonoses are mostly found in poultry, although they can also be found in pork stocks. Because the highest amounts of Salmonella-positive samples were found in meat products, the integrative approach for Salmonella concentrates on primary poultry and pig production. This strategy’s implementation reduces environmental contamination, transmission levels, and public health effects.
Most countries have implemented control measures, and certain regions, such as Europe and the United States, have set tracking criteria for the top 1 or 2 Salmonella serotypes found in poultry: Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium.
How do you keep up with Salmonella analysis testing and compliance requirements? What are your client’s difficulties, and how does your technology assist them to overcome them?
DS: Thermo Fisher has created a number of workflows to satisfy the needs of different industrial segments, allowing companies to comply with zoonoses directives and food safety regulations. For accurate monitoring in primary production, RapidFinderTM technology offers Salmonella genus detection as well as Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis specific detection. The SureTect Salmonella AssayTM workflow allows for easy and quick detection of Salmonella spp., with same-day findings for fresh food products with short shelf lives, such as fruits and vegetables, and next-day results with the standard workflow.
The use of the Chromogenic BrillianceTM Salmonella plate in conjunction with the Thermo Scientific Salmonella Latex Test facilitates confirmation.
What are the benefits of strict QC methods and established molecular testing workflows?
DS: For routine testing, there are two types of methodologies: standard methods and alternative methods, which are frequently proprietary. In comparison to the reference procedures, these alternative approaches are easier to use and have a faster time to result. Food safety authorities choose standard methods and create regulatory criteria and technical requirements for recognition of alternative procedures in their jurisdiction. This makes perfect sense, and obtaining a complete validation process in accordance with the ISO 16140-2:2016 standard and AOAC guidelines should be the top priority when launching new solutions. This is the guarantee of supply procedures meeting the quality standards required and recognized by the competent authorities.
How simple is it to integrate SureTect and related media into a lab?
In addition, to ensure a user-friendly application of the method, we prepared verification criteria in accordance with the future ISO 16140-3. Many consumers appear to be enthusiastic about the offered approaches and verification tools.
What do you think the future holds for this field?
DS: For source monitoring, food safety officials are pushing for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). According to Adrianne Klijn and co-authors’ latest study from last summer, WGS is unlikely to replace all existing typing technologies in the foreseeable future. There are various reasons for this: expenses, time-to-results that is incompatible with routine surveillance, analysis complexity, and a lack of uniformity.
There are undoubtedly some aspirations for solutions to replace traditional typing and fingerprinting, but WGS does not appear to be the preferred technique from an industry standpoint.
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