Marler Blog - Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, new FSIS Chief speaks on non-O157 E. coli - Comments

Kenneth Morrison

bmarler@marlerclark.com (Bill Marler) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:06:17 -0800

I recently ran across a small company with a laser identification technology that boasts the ability to identify e-coli in minutes (and some 23 other food contaminants all at the same time). The name of the company is Micro Imaging Technology, and is said to be beginning the production of their machine called the MIT 1000. I don't know a whole lot about this company, but I thought you might want to know that a company does exist and does have a product that meets the rapid test requirement stated in this article. Not only does machine do the tests fast, it does the tests for only about 10 cents and does not require a highly trained lab technician. The company's website also says their equipment has been tested and certified to be more accurate then current testing in most labs. The following is their website: info@micro-identification.com

Walt Hill

bmarler@marlerclark.com (Bill Marler) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:06:17 -0800

The presence of virulence genes such as the Shigatoxin encoding genes indicate that there has been a failure in maintaining process control to eliminate pathogens. Samples which are positive for these genes have a higher probability of harboring pathogens than ones that do not and are a good indicator of risk. Serotyping is a hold-over from 40-50 years ago when it was an important classification tool. Now, with genotyping and genome sequencing available, we have much more direct methods of assessing the pathogenic potential of foodborne bacteria. Let's move food safety microbiology into the 21st century.

Amy

bmarler@marlerclark.com (Bill Marler) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:06:17 -0800

http://johnscustommeats.blogspot.com/2010/09/increased-federal-beef-oversight-needed.html