Do your homework

Designing the right type of test for your plant makes all the difference in food safety.

Richard F. Stier

Statistics can be a dangerous thing. Today, the food industry has access to numerous types of tests-and, unfortunately, consumer advocates often gravitate towards them. Yet, frequently consumers don't understand the statistics behind these tests. In many cases, the test's sample size is so small that the probability of detecting a problem is miniscule. Further, people (both inside and outside our industry) sometimes don't understand the concepts of process control and testing as a basic verification activity.

Compounding the problem is that some food plants do not perform the right tests for the right situations. In microbiological testing for example, there are many cases in which people are testing for the wrong class or type of organisms because they have failed to closely consider the foods involved and the systems used to process them. Selection of the proper organism (i.e. pathogens or spoilage organisms) can be used to predict potential food quality or safety problems.

Part of the reason that plants perform incorrect tests is due to misunderstandings, either about the tests and/or what the results indicate. For example, coliforms are common waterborne contaminants and most species are completely harmless. However, thanks to the media and pseudo-scientists, there are many people who believe that coliforms are deadly rather than a potential index organism of poor sanitation.

Another common mistake is using the wrong media for testing or failing to modify a medium so that it will detect potential problems. Culturing tomato paste samples on something like nutrient agar or plate count agar, for example, will frequently reveal a high bacteria count. Yet, this is a product that may contain aerobic sporeforming bacteria, which will grow on a basic medium. That's why, in this example, orange serum or a modified juice agar is a better choice. Ultimately, the key point to remember is that media may need to be modified with sugars, acids, salts or other components to mirror the food system and provide a better picture of what is happening.

Finally, remember to evaluate which chemical and physical tests are appropriate for your facility. Today's food and beverage manufacturers have access to many types of rapid tests. There are quick tests for allergens, such as peanuts, soy, milk, proteins and mycotoxins, as well as a wide range of tests for measuring adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, some companies do not fully understand how these tests should be used. (For example, the allergen and mycotoxin tests are meant to be screening tests.) If you use one of these tests, take the time and invest the money to properly validate the test. Find out if the foods or environment being tested are susceptible to false positives or negatives. Can the test be used with your plant's food system? The test supplier should be able to provide you with this information.

The bottom line? Do your homework before designing a testing program. Consider the microbiological and chemical parameters and obtain the information you need to ensure the tests perform properly and correlate with official methods. Ultimately, validating the tests and the systems in which they are used is your responsibility. Remember that the results will be used to verify that your products are safe. Isn't that enough of a reason to do your homework?

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Richard Stier is a consulting food scientist who has helped food processors develop safety, quality and sanitation programs. He believes in emphasizing the importance of how these programs can help companies increase profits. Stier holds degrees in food science from Rutgers University and the University of California at Davis. He is a Contributing Editor for Food Engineering. Email: rickstier4@aol.com