For Abstracts

Brooke Schwartz (Brooke Schwartz Consulting)

Reliable pathogen detection methods play a key role in an effective food safety program. A variety of pathogen detection platforms and methods are commercially available, and test kit manufacturers are striving to develop increasingly rapid methods to address the specific needs of the fresh cut industry. In developing new methods, test kit companies must take into account the diverse set of needs and requirements that span fresh cut growers, testing labs, retail customers, and the regulatory and public health agencies that monitor the safety of these products. This presentation addresses some of the critical questions and challenges facing both the test kit developers and the fresh cut industry, including: The determination of whether and where to test; the need for speed; the challenges of sampling; validated and verified methods; and interpretation of results.