New Products

Romer Labs
www.romerlabs.com/glutenG12
Romer Labs recently launched the ELISA test AgraQuant Gluten G12 and the lateral flow device AgraStrip Gluten G12 using the monoclonal G12 antibody to specifically measure the toxic fraction present in gluten. The G12 antibody represents a new generation of gluten testing by targeting toxic peptides which trigger auto-immune reactions in people that suffer from celiac disease. The G12 antibody was raised against the toxic fragment called 33-mer of the gliadin protein present in gluten. There is an ongoing debate concerning the presence or absence of gluten in oats. Several publications conclude that certain oat varieties may cause an auto-immune response in celiac patients. During the validation of AgraQuant Gluten G12 and AgraStrip Gluten G12, positive and negative responses to oat varieties were observed. Therefore, the G12 antibody may shed new light on this debate. The company said that results obtained from immunochemical test systems based on the G12 antibody should be considered to be closer to the ideal of a food safety test by establishing the link between celiac disease and detection of the immunotoxic peptides.
 

P+L Systems
www.synergetic-flylights.com
P+L Systems have introduced six new models of insect light traps (flylights) for purchase in the U.S. and Canada. The new models include five glueboard units (Aura, Halo 30, Halo 45, Edge, and Nectar) and one electric grid unit (Allure). These products have been available in Europe and other parts of the world for two years and are now available in versions that meet the specific requirements of the North American market. Full details of the new models are available at www.synergetic-flylights.com.
 

DuPont Qualicon
www.qualicon.com
The FDA has awarded test method equivalency to the BAX System from DuPont Qualicon for detecting Salmonella enteritidis in eggs. Accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of two BAX System PCR assays—Salmonella and Salmonella 2—were determined equivalent to the reference culture method published in the FDA’s Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Moreover, results for both assays were available just 55 hours after sampling. Shorter enrichment with this method means that eggs can be released days faster, reducing inventory and refrigerated storage costs while helping to prevent contaminated products from reaching the food supply, the company said. The automated BAX system uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, tableted reagents, and optimized media to detect Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, Campylobacter, Vibrio, and more. 
 

Decagon Devices
www.aqualab.com
The AquaLab Vapor Sorption Analyzer (VSA) allows scientists to better understand moisture in products and pinpoint quality control issues, according to manufacturer Decagon Devices. The way a product is influenced by temperature and humidity changes can reveal important details about physical and chemical changes that end shelf-life. This type of measurement is called an isotherm. Isotherm generation technology tracks changes in the amount of moisture in a product as the water activity changes. Isotherms hold the key to understanding hidden details of food and pharmaceutical products. The AquaLab VSA is a moisture sorption analyzer that combines dynamic and traditional isotherm methods in one instrument. According to the company, the AquaLab VSA provides hundreds of data points, showing details such as glass transition and greater resolution while still viewing reactions such as crystallization. The AquaLab Vapor Sorption Analyzer also provides insight into new product development, shelf-life estimation, packaging calculations, temperature abuse modeling and component mixing models in hours instead of weeks, the company added.
 

Focus Works
www.focus-works.com
Focus Works recently introduced an advanced batch and lot-tracking system called the Product Recipe Ingredient Management System (PRIMS), designed to reduce waste, troubleshoot, and provide full lot traceability. PRIMS is a personal computer-based automation solution that is interfaced to PLC-based operator control stations on the plant floor. It is based on the premise that the only way to prevent operators from making mistakes is to confirm and verify everything they pre-scale and add into the mixers, thereby removing their ability to deviate from the set recipe, the company said. It added that with the product installed, operators cannot make a batch that does not meet the recipe specifications in terms of required ingredients, proportions, mixing time, speed, or dough temperature. After a baking company loads its recipes into the product’s database, the recipes are sent to control stations on the bakery floor as needed to meet daily production schedules. The recipe software then “walks” the operator through the recipe on a multilingual display at the control station, which is connected to the mixer, necessary scales, temperature probes, and other equipment. If all is according to spec, the operator can proceed to the next step, otherwise the operator is prompted to correct the mistake. If an operator goes outside the prescribed recipe, the deviation is recorded by the system, along with operator ID, so management can take corrective action.

JF Oakes
www.jfoakes.com
JF Oakes has introduced a new, improved, economically priced 14LED UV Flashlight which the company said is very bright with high performance. Powered by three C-cell batteries, it has a continuous runtime of 16 hours. The durable, anodized aluminum body is corrosion resistant with an easy-to-locate on/off switch. LEDs are energy-saving and have no filaments to burn out or break saving money on replacement bulbs, the company said.

3M
www.3m.com/
3M Food Safety has introduced the 3M Molecular Detection System, which the company describes as a fast, accurate, and easy-to-use method of detecting pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli O157and Listeria. Available worldwide, the system is based on a combination of technologies involving isothermal DNA amplification and bioluminescence detection in a compact, simple, robust system that offers easy implementation and low maintenance without compromising accuracy and reliability, the company said. The 3M Molecular Detection System targets and amplifies nucleic acid in enriched samples. The automated technology has been evaluated with a variety of food types, including produce, meats, processed foods, pet food, and food processing-related environmental samples, and numerous organisms can be tested in a single run. The instrument is compact—taking up less counter space than a laptop computer, making it portable and adaptable to various lab environments. As part of the system’s platform, individual, pathogen-specific assays, or procedural tests, will be sold as a test kits. Each assay test kit uses the same software interface and same DNA extraction protocol for testing between one and 96 samples per run. Assays for Salmonella, E. coli O157 (including H7) and Listeria are available now, and a test for Listeria monocytogenes is expected in early 2012. Currently underway are independent laboratory studies with the 3M Molecular Detection System to pursue global method recognitions.

Sargent Manufacturing
www.sargentlock.com
Sargent Manufacturing Company, an Assa Abloy Group company, has introduced Incepta Series locks for food industry security and protection. Providing versatility, performance, and audit functionality, the company said, Incepta restricts access to critical areas that contain food supplies or handle food manufacturing, adding enhanced control over security levels. The company added that the Sargent Incepta Series is an easily integrated and cost-effective solution for flexible and reliable access control that it said will minimize risk associated with the food supply chain. The series uses Aperio wireless lock technology, Assa Abloy’s global wireless platform that expands existing electronic access control systems to improve security and provide audit capability for compliance with FSMA.