Top Editors ... Safety Show case

Title: Safety Show case
Date: 15/12/2006
Autor: Food and Beverage International


Hand-held thermometers forQC
Ebro Electronic, the measuring instrument specialist located in Ingolstadt, Germany, has introduced two newly developed hand-held thermometers, TTX 100 and TTX 110, with a measuring range from -50°C to +350°C. The only difference between the two instruments is that the associated thermocouple sensing probé of the TTX 100 has a non-detachable probe.
Accuracy is said to be +/- 0.8°C. In the range from -50°C to +199.9°C, the resolution is 0.1 °C; and 1°C in the rest of the range. The response time (90%) is only five seconds. The rugged ABS housing, sealed to IP55 for harsh environments, is particularly shockproof and has a large, easy to read LCD display.
The TTX thermometers comply with the HACCP Principies of Food Hygiene and the European standard EN 13485, and are delivered with a Certifícate of Calibration from the factory. The battery has an average operating life of one year, and the instrument is designed for daily use. EBRO Electronic, Germany 402 •

Traceability software launched
Avery Weigh-Tronix has launched a product traceability software that is designed to provide complete traceability along the food chain. The stand-alone system provides an easily integrated solution for small and médium sized companies, according to the company.
The software is a material tracing system: every item associated with the end product is allocated a unique identity number on receipt. Whenever that material is used or sold it is traced by reference to this number.
Using the system, a product is tracked through production and distribution. In addition, the components of a finished product can be revealed and the full history of the use of these ingredients can be traced.
This meets the latest EU General Food Law Regulations 178/2002 and the principle of 'one forward, one back'. The software can be integrated with scales, bar code readers and bar code printers for automated data capture, and is Microsoft Windows based. Avery Weigh-Tronix, UK

RSSL cracks the crustácea challenge
Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) has developed a test to identify trace amounts of crustacea, adding to the comprehensive list of allergen tests that it can perform to UKAS approved standards.
Using the DNA amplification technique of PCR, RSSL can detect the presence of different crustacea species, such as shrimps, prawns, crabs, lobster and crayfish in a wide range of food products. The test is sensitive down to 100ppm.
Crustacea are on the EU list of 12 allergens that have to be labelled if present in a food. The risk to consumers comes from the potential for cross contamination and inadvertent inclusion in faetones where several products are processed on the same line, or where ingredients are stored in close proximity.
RSSL has also developed a new test for lupin flour, a serious but under-reported food allergen. "In fact, lupin flour may be as dangerous as peanuts to vulnerable consumers," said Graeme Coulam of RSSL. "This is a danger because lupin ingredients are gradually being introduced into more and more foods including beverages, bread, biscuits and pasta. At the same time, the number of cases of lupin allergy is increasing."
Although lupin flour is not on the EU list of 12 allergens that must belabelled, many manufacturers areadding voluntany warnings, or are excluding it, because the allergenicity is similar to that of peanuts. RSSL, UK

Salmonella resutts in less than 24 hours
BioControl Systems Inc, a worldwide provider of safety testing, has announced the addition of Salmonella to its Assurance GDS (Genetic Detection System) platform. It is claimed to be the first Salmonella method to provide accurate results in as little as 20 hours.
Assurance GDS combines the latest developments in molecular technology and food microbiology to provide faster results. "This is an important advantage to customers holding product for release," said Phil Fledsine, president of BioControl.
The system also offers greater accuracy in the form of multiple layers of specificity, according to BioControl. These include immunomagnetic separation (IMS), highly specific primers, and a patented Probe system, which ensure the highest degree of accuracy.
The Assurance GDS system includes assays for E.Coli 0157:H7 and Shiga Toxin genes. Assays for Listería and Listaría monocytogenes are currently in development. BioControl, USA
EFSIS acquired bySAI
EFSIS, the global food inspection and certification specialist, has been acquired by SAI Global Group, one of the world's leading business publishing, cornpliance, training and assurance organisations. The acquisition was announced to the Australian stock market at íhe end of 2005.
EFSIS is now the global food división within SAI Global, enhancing EFSIS' worldwide coverage of the food inspection and certification market, by adding physical offices in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Asia and North America to the current EFSIS offices in Europe and Thailand.
Mark Proctor, MD of EFSIS, commented: "EFSIS is one of the most widely recognised certification bodies. Our inspection and certification services are independently accredited across the world to the various European standards, EN45004, EN45011, and EN45012."

Deb offers hand hygiene solutions
At the recent FoodEx MeatEx exhibition in the UK, Deb Ltd was offering solutions to cornply with new legislation on hygiene.
To support the small to medium sized businesses in the food sector, allowing them to easily and cost-effectively meet legislation requirements, Deb Ltd, manufacturer of Florafree, has introduced a starter pack system, which adequately rneets with hand hygiene protocol and offers cost saving benefits, according to the company.
Containing a hand cleansing and a sanitising dispenser, the Florafree Starter Packs come with two 1 litre cartridges of the Florafree Mild hand cleanser and two 1 litre cartridges of the Florafree Alcohol sanitizer. It also contains clearly illustrated 'how to use' training material for employees. Deb Ltd, UK

Inspection system for small producís
S+S Inspection has launched an X-ray inspection system specifically for small products. The new RAYCON XS is only 1,300 mm long, making it easy to integrate into existing packing lines, but incorporates the same technology and image processing as the larger machine.
With throughputs of up to 400 units per minute, the RAYCON XS is a cost effective solution to the inspection of small
S+S Inspection has launched an X-ray system specifically for small products
packs of butter, cheese, instant soups and other powder rnixes, meat and sausages, even when aluminium foil or metallised film packaging is used.
As X-ray inspection is not sensitive to moisture and salts in the product, a very wide range of products can be reliably checked for both metallic and non-metallic contamination, including glass, ceramic, stone, bone and most plastics, in addition to identifying missing, underweight or broken product inside opaque and sealed packaging. S+S Inspection, UK

Seminars will advise on new General Food Law

Following the introduction of the new General Food Law, which harmonises 17 existing EC hygiene directivas by replacing them with five regulations, many companies are still trying to get to grips with the details.
Antoine Rocourt, operational marketing leader EMA for JohnsonDiversey, a leading global provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions, said: "The new law takes a broader view of food safety. In addition to potential risks from contamination, it covers cumulative long-term health effects and allergies. Products will be checked closely for compliance with rules on what foodstuffs may and may not contain, and with labelling and consumer information requirements.
"Meeting food and feed standards will achieve nothing if food or feed is produced or handled in unhygienic conditions. A failure to maintain high levéis of hygiene anywhere in the food chain can result in requirements under the new food safety laws not being met, and more importantly, can lead to ¡mmediate risks for consumers.
"One of these regulations is the Hygiene of Foodstuffs Regulation (EC No 852/2004). It states that the principies of HACCP will apply to all food business operators beyond primary production.
"Most large food businesses already have risk-based safety procedures in place," said Mr Rocourt. "The challenge will be with small business, where the current compliance level in the UK is no more than 30%."
JohnsonDiversey can provide total food safety solutions ranging from food safety training, to auditing, HACCP implementation and consulting. It will be holding a series of seminars throughout Europe to bring businesses up to date with the new Food Safety requirements. The seminars will provide practical advice and information to ensure businesses are operating in such a way that maximises food safety and compliance with the new European Food Safety Laws.  JohnsonDiversey, UK 400 •

CFA Publisher guide on micro criteria regulations
The Chilled Food Association (CFA) has published, in conjunction with the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Guidance on the Practical Implementation of the EC Regulation on Microbiological Críteria for Foodstuffs. (see p48)
The guidance is intended to help food business operators to understand the requirements of the European Commission Regulation on Microbiological Criteria for Foodstuffs which carne into forcé on 1 January this year. The guidance is in two parts: Part A is an overview of the requirements of the Regulations; and Part B provides interpretation of Annex 1 (the microbiological criteria) for both food safety and process hygiene.
It will be published on the CFA and BRC websites for free access (www.chilledfood.org).  CFA, UK 401