3M Listeria VIA Receives AOAC-PTM Approval

ST. PAUL, Minn. - 3M Food Safety has announced its Tecra Listeria Visual Immunoassay (VIA) for Environmental Testing has received validation from the AOAC Research Institute's Performance Tested Methods Program.

3M notes that the validation comes weeks after a U.S.-based Listeria outbreak linked to imported ricotta cheese affected 12 states, resulting in 15 hospitalizations and three deaths. "The impact of foodborne pathogens such as Listeria make it increasingly important that food processing plants are able to monitor Listeria levels with consistent, frequent testing," the company said in a release.

The Tecra Listeria VIA allows food processors to monitor Listeria levels to identify hot spots within the plant and track progress, 3M said. Using 3M Enviro Swabs or 3M Sponges, the sample is collected and enriched before being placed in the assay where the results are read and interpreted. Providing results in just 48 hours, the VIA assures confidence in product safety while offering flexibility in the testing process.

"The 3M Tecra Listeria VIA provides operation flexibility, further validating the diverse solutions 3M Food Safety is bringing to the marketplace," said DeAnn Benesh, regulatory affairs specialist with 3M Food Safety. "This validation, coupled with recent 3M Molecular Detection Assay Approvals, demonstrates 3M's commitment to quality and safe food."

Learn more about 3M Food Safety products here.