WILMINGTON, Del. — DuPont Qualicon has released a new genetic-based test that allows food companies to detect Listeria on environmental surfaces in just eight hours. This new assay is the first commercial application of Reverse-Transcriptase PCR for bacterial testing in food and the latest addition to the company’s suite of BAX system products.
“This flexible test can give food companies clear, precise results at the end of a shift,” said Kevin Huttman, president of DuPont Qualicon. “With fast, accurate detection of Listeria, even at low concentrations, food processors get the information they need to take action sooner and release product faster.”
Found in a wide range of foods, Listeria is usually killed with proper cooking. However, ready-to-eat products, such as hot dogs and deli meat, can become contaminated between cooking and packaging. Listeriosis is an infection caused by eating food contaminated with pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes. This illness is especially risky for pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals, with a fatality rate of 20 percent.