FOOD SAFETY Speeding up the process Rapid testing technology provides processors with new ways to keep food safe BY B E R N A R D S H I R E | m e a t p o u l t r y @ s o s l a n d.c o m A Processors want pathogen testing results as quickly and accurately as possible. MEAT+ POULTRY | 01.19 | www.meatpoultry.com 3M 54 s meat and poultry processors fight the never-ending battle to make sure their food products are safe, they are coming up with new developments in the world of rapid testing technology for pathogens, including gearing pathogen tests to work with robotics and automated lines in meat and poultry processing plants; developing new technology testing that allows for results to be back in less than an hour; and creating new state-of-the-art validation certification of tests for Campylobacter. "In meat and poultry slaughter and processing, so much toward the success of the business is governed by economics," says Cynthia Zook, a microbiologist and manager of design and development for 3M Food Safety. "It's very important in the industry to keep the inventory moving, helping producers to be more cost-effective - to free up freezer storage - to help labs be more efficient with their labor. All these goals get accomplished quicker and easier by using technology that gets pathogen testing results as quickly and accurately as possible," she says. "Our latest is a molecular assay for Campylobacter that's received validation and certification. This pathogen is highly associated with coming from poultry. Our certification states that it's equivalent to or better than FSIS' assay method."http://www.meatpoultry.com