New Products

Sterilex
www.sterilex.com
Sterilex products were featured on a segment of CBS4 News Denver as a "key chemical that kills and helps prevent the formation of Listeria" and "something that could save lives" if used at similar facilities. The segment covered the FDA's investigation into the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak at Jensen Farms. Sterilex markets a line of products, based on PerQuat technology, that have the ability to kill resistant organisms such as Listeria living within protective biofilm, the company said. In addition, a 2009 USDA-ARS publication in Agricultural Research magazine entitled "Biofilms Have a New Foil" concluded that "(Sterilex chemistry) is more effective than currently used disinfectants in reducing L. monocytogenes biofilm growth, thus minimizing the risk of pathogenic contamination." Sterilex's patented products for food and beverage processing are distributed through cleaning and sanitation chemical providers in the U.S. and Canada.

3M Food Safety
www.3M.com/foodsafety
In collaboration with Kraft Foods, 3M Food Safety has developed a new test to enumerate lactic acid bacteria in food and environmental samples. The Aerobic Procedure for Lactic Acid Bacteria is the result of a long-term relationship with Kraft Foods; it integrates a combination of the 3M Petrifilm Aerobic Count Plate, a pH indicator and MRS (deMan, Rogosa and Sharpe) media. Kraft Foods approached 3M Food Safety to create a new procedure as an easier solution for monitoring shelf-life and environmental samples for food products, such as raw and ready-to-eat (RTE) meats. Use of this procedure was recently approved for internal validation by Kraft Foods quality, and 3M Food Safety is now releasing this method for global food manufacturers. While lactic acid bacteria typically do not cause illness if ingested, they can change the color and flavor of food products. Lactic acid bacteria testing is not mandated by government regulation; however, many food manufacturers monitor lactic acid bacteria in their products and environments for quality and customer satisfaction. For more information, visit 3M or call1-800-328-1671.
 

DuPont Qualicon
www.qualicon.com
DuPont Qualicon has introduced the BAX System STEC Suite, a trio of real-time PCR assays that enable food processors, reference labs and government labs to rapidly and reliably detect the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) most frequently associated with severe foodborne illness in the United States. This suite of food safety tests was developed in collaboration with the USDA ARS and is closely aligned with the testing approach used by FSIS. The BAX System screening assay detects a combination of virulence genes (stx and eae) to clear negative samples in the production line. Two multiplex panel assays can determine which of the top six non-O157 STEC serogroups- —O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145—are present in positive samples. The automated system uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, tableted reagents, and optimized media to detect Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, Campylobacter, Vibrio, and more. It holds certifications and regulatory approvals in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
 

Eriez
www.eriez.com/Products/Prograde
Eriez offers ProGrade Tube Magnets, small, yet powerful magnets that can be used as inspection tools or anywhere traditional grate magnets will not fit. The tube magnets are one inch (25.4 mm) in diameter, made of 316L stainless steel and have ¼ x 20 UNC tapped end plugs. Ceramic, rare earth, and extreme rare earth circuits are available in varying lengths. Ceramic-powered separators can remove medium to large tramp metal such as bolts, nuts, and hand tools; rare earth separators are designed for efficient removal of small ferrous contaminants such as pins, brads, and clips; and separators powered by extreme rare earth magnet material remove weakly magnetic, fine ferrous contamination, the company said. Individual tube magnets are available from four inches (100 mm) to 24 inches (610 mm) long, can be used to remove ferrous contaminants from liquids in tanks, as a quality control check for dry bulk materials, and in many other situations where a powerful, portable magnetic power source is required. These magnets also work in harsh environments at temperatures up to 150 degrees F.
 

Ashland Inc.
www.ashland.com
Brewers now have free access to information about beer stabilization technology following the launch of the www.polyclarbeer.com website by Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. Polyclarbeer.com was developed specifically for brewers and is a sister site to polyclarwine.com, which launched earlier this year. The site provides information on polyclarbeer, the chemistry upon which all Polyclar products are based. Polyclarbeer.com also provides both technical and application information on the use of PVPP in beer brewing, detailed product literature specifying dosing and other usage recommendations, and a forum where Ashland experts provide answers to specific questions. Additionally, visitors can view a demonstration of how Polyclar stabilizer is easily dispersed in water. Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers products, technologies, and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in food and beverage, using natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers, and vinyl pyrrolidones, Visit www.polyclarbeer.com for more information.
 

Sparta Systems
www.spartasystems.com
Sparta Systems, Inc., has enhanced web services capabilities for its TrackWise enterprise quality management software (EQMS). The new functionality reduces user administration for global organizations in highly regulated industries, enabling efficient and effective management of accounts and permissions across quality and compliance processes, the company said, adding that the latest release also includes a broad range of document-control functions that enable the transfer of attachments, via a web service, to other enterprise applications. The latest version of TrackWise software enables organizations to control and provision log-in accounts, user roles, and specific permission assignments from pre-existing enterprise applications; automate the creation of user accounts for supplier and customer access portals and web forms; enable interchange of unstructured content including documents, pictures, videos, and other files between TrackWise software and other enterprise applications; and expose both structured and unstructured files and data through pre-existing enterprise portals, reporting tools, and other established means of making information available.
 

Food Safety Net Services
www.food-safetynet.com
With USDA's recent announcement that E. coli serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121, and O145 will be declared adulterants in non-intact raw beef, Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) announces its ability to and proficiency in testing for the E. coli serogroups. FSIS will begin testing for these six serogroups of Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and enforcing the new policy on March 5, 2012. Initially, testing will focus on trim then it will expand to include other ground beef components and ground beef. There are a number of methods currently available for testing the non-O157 STEC Top 6 in beef. Currently, FSNS offers STEC testing through various rapid detection systems such as Dupont Qualicon BAX, and BioControl GDS. FSNS stated that it can work with companies and accommodate trial runs for the non-O157 STEC testing and help clients assure that they are prepared for the new beef testing regulations by providing insight to STEC prevalence in their beef products.