Thermo Fisher Scientific presented instrumentation, equipment, consumables and software for food safety testing at the AOAC International meeting and exposition in Philadelphia on 11-17 September.
The company showcased testing solutions for four key applications - pathogens, pesticide screening, veterinary drug residues and traceability - and a full portfolio of food safety products.
Marc N Casper, chief operating officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific, said: 'As more instances of contamination reach the public eye, global companies and regulatory agencies are looking for technological solutions that increase testing speed, accuracy and throughput.
'We're not only focused on increasing instrument performance; we're also committed to helping our customers implement new methods that make it easier and more cost effective to isolate and eliminate contamination as early in the food chain as possible,' he added.
Pathogens, including salmonella, E.coli and listeria, are primary causes of food-borne illnesses in humans and can affect a range of food products.
During the event, scientists demonstrated how a Thermo Scientific Kingfisher Flex magnetic particle processor uses patented technology to isolate bacteria and animal virus RNA from food samples.
The company also exhibited its Thermo Scientific Arena 20XT, an automated system for the quality control and analysis of food, wine, juice and other beverages, and the Thermo Scientific Multiskan FC, a microplate photometer that rapidly detects harmful bacteria, viruses and other infectious agents.
For pesticide screening, Thermo Fisher showcased the Thermo Scientific Tracefinder software and TSQ Quantum Access Max triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, which offers sensitivity at parts per trillion for the multi-residue analysis of volatile and non-volatile pesticides in food samples, while simplifying routine screening, even for novice users.
More than 500 pesticides are used worldwide today to improve crop yields, but increased production also means increased risk.
Producers require solutions that can test for multiple substances at once and also need to comply with complex requirements that change from country to country.
Thermo Fisher also offers solutions for the low-level detection of veterinary drug residues.
The Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantum Access Max meets the strict analytical requirements of food safety and environmental laboratories.
The Thermo Scientific Transcend TLX system with Turboflow technology automates sample preparation and maximises throughput, while providing higher sensitivity and the detection of drug residues at extremely low levels, according to the company.
Farm-raised animals often receive drugs, both licensed and illegal, to control disease and encourage growth.
Traces of banned substances, or unacceptably high levels of legal substances, have been shown to be unsafe for human consumption.
The Thermo Scientific booth also featured the Nautilus laboratory information management system, used by many food and beverage companies to ensure strict compliance with industry regulations and standards.
The Nautilus LIMS is scalable from a single-user to a multi-user network system and is available in multiple languages, providing one standard user interface that helps companies enforce process standardisation across multiple geographies and facilities.
