Lab Services: Listeria

Integrated Strategies, Total Solutions from Silliker

Controlling Listeria

If your company is working to ensure your Listeria control programs comply with the USDA directive, Silliker can help.

To request a meeting to discuss your current program and how the directive may affect your company or free information, click here.

Updated July 13, 2006

Under the jurisdiction of the USDA, RTE companies must employ integrated control strategies to minimize the growth and proliferation of Listeria monocytogenes in processing facilities. Drawing on decades of experience in the meat and poultry industries, Silliker can help you implement comprehensive risk management program sot safeguard product integrity and meet regulatory mandates.

Listeria Environmental Monitoring Programs - Food Contact Surfaces

Rapid Test Method

Enhanced Employee Education

HACCP Plan Assessment

Process Validation

Request More Information
from Silliker

Oct 2003 - FSIS Implementation of a Random, risks-based verificaiton testing program for Listeria monocytogenes for ready-to-eat meats (RTE)

Listeria Environmental Monitoring Programs
Poorly cleaned and sanitized product contact surfaces are a leading cause of microbial cross-contamination in RTE plants. USDA Listeria directives require samples collected during production. Environmental monitoring is an integral part of your food safety systems and we can help you design and implement effective programs. Through years of in-plant expertise, we will help you:

Identify hard-to-reach cleaning areas

Detect and eliminate microbial "hot spots"

Select appropriate sampling sites

Establish sampling frequency

Train personnel on aseptic sampling techniques

Accrue data to establish a baseline

Food Contact Surfaces

We can provide you with the tools and knowledge, and training to improve your program by selecting appropriate sampling sites, establishing sampling frequency, training workers on aseptic sampling techniques, and supplying you Silliker “EZ Swab Environmental Sampling Kits.”

As part of our total solutions services, we can also provide you with environmental monitoring supply kits. Our hassle-free sampling kits contain everything you need to conduct routine sampling of your processing environment and quickly verify the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Each kit contains:

40 self-contained EZ Swab units with a hydrated, cellulose sponge and glove

40 sampling labels

An insulated shipping container and refrigerated pack

Detailed instructions and sampling locations and techniques

Unlike many traditional sponges, our cellulose sponges are free of inhibitory compounds and hydrated with a buffer to eliminate the need for messy bottles.

FSIS Listeria Directive Environmental. Monitoring Programs Rapid Test Methods Enhancing Employee Education HACCP Plan Assessment Process Validation October 2003 -- FSIS implementation of a Random, Risks-based Verification Testing Program for Listeria monocytogenes for Ready-to-at Meats (RTE)
Request More Information
[Return to top ]

Rapid Test Methods

Silliker, Inc. can help you develop and implement a testing program to verify the effectiveness of your Listeria monitoring program. Using state-of-the-art rapid methods, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, we can provide you with accurate and reliable results.

Through Silliker-eSTAR, our secured website, you have 24/7/365 access to your confidential results, allowing you to download data and track deficiencies.

Our network of ISO 17025 accredited laboratories are committed to providing you with unmatched technical expertise in choosing Listeria testing methods to meet current directives. Contact us to learn more about our testing services.

Enhancing Employee Education

Whether you have 25 employees or 2,500, education and training is a critical component in controlling Listeria. Unfortunately, research has shown that many RTE plants do not conduct ongoing training programs for plant personnel.

From employee hygiene practices to aseptic sampling techniques, we offer courses, videos, and online learning programs to bring your training initiatives up-to-speed. Developed by leading scientists and adult training experts, our training products contain practical science-based information to help managers and line workers understand today’s critical food safety issues.

Ensuring your technicians use proper sample collection techniques is critical in assuring the effectiveness of your environmental monitoring program. Our new training program, “Swabbing Techniques for Sampling Environment and Equipment” can help you effectively train new employees, standardize best practices among experienced technicians, and prevent common mistakes in wet processing environments. The complete program includes:

CD with video clips and photos which visually demonstrates proper procedures
Comprehensive facilitator’s guide
Five technician workbooks with step-by-step diagrams, photos, worksheets and exercises to make learning simple and fun
Quiz to ensure content has been understood
Certificate of Completion
PowerPoint template to enable you to create your own internal presentation

This groundbreaking educational program was developed in partnership with Biotrace International Inc., an ISO 9001 manufacturer of high quality, specialized, industrial microbiology products.

HACCP Plan Assessment

Establishments producing RTE products that are exposed to the environment after lethality treatments must have written HACCP plans to document their control strategies for L. monocytogenes. Under government guidelines, the effectiveness of plans must be verified periodically.

Silliker consultants can help you assess your HACCP program and satisfy USDA FSIS requirements. With years of extensive in-plant experience, our consultants can evaluate the effectiveness of your HACCP program to ensure you are adequately addressing potential risks and hazards associated with your products and processes.

In detailed reports, we will outline areas of discrepancy in your plan, provide practical recommendations for regulatory compliance, and help your HACCP team strengthen your program.

Process Validation

Silliker Food Science Center researchers can conduct custom process validation studies to verify the effectiveness of your processes to reduce the presence of spoilage organisms and pathogens, extend product shelf-life, and assure product safety. Our studies are designed to accurately simulate your process and can verify your process is achieving the necessary log reduction to meet prescribed lethality standards.

October 2003 -- FSIS implementation of a random, risks-based verification testing program for Listeria monocytogenes for ready-to-eat meats (RTE)

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) strongly restated its commitment to reduce the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) products. Given the ever-present nature of L. monocytogenes, its hardiness, and ability to grow at refrigeration temperatures and under anaerobic conditions, it remains a serious threat to food safety. We wanted to share how certain actions might affect your operation. In the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR Part 430), establishments producing RTE products that are exposed to the environment after lethality treatments are required to develop written programs – such as HACCP, SSOPs, or other prerequisite programs – to control L. monocytogenes. The effectiveness of these actions is to be verified through testing and results shared with FSIS. The agency will conduct its own verification activities to ensure plants are effectively controlling this pathogen. The rule mandates that plants incorporate one of the following Listeria control strategies:

Alternative 1: Employ both a post-lethality treatment and a growth inhibitor for Listeria on RTE products. Plants opting for this alternative will be subject to FSIS verification activity that focuses on the post-lethality treatment effectiveness.
Alternative 2: Employ either a post-lethality treatment or a growth inhibitor for Listeria on RTE products. Establishments opting for this alternative will be subject to more frequent FSIS verification activity than for Alternative 1.
Alternative 3: Employ sanitation measures only. Plants opting for this alternative will be targeted with the most frequent level of FSIS verification activity.

In early January, FSIS reiterated the implementation of a random, risks-based verification testing program for Listeria monocytogenes for ready-to-eat meats (RTE).

In short, the notice stated that FSIS will implement the risk-based sampling program of post lethality exposed RTE meat and poultry products. The first step is to have inspection personnel randomly collect samples of RTE product and have it tested for L. monocytogenes as a verification that plants are in compliance. The sampling focus will be plants producing post lethality exposed products that pose the greatest risk for L. monocytogenes using Alternative 3 with sanitation as their only means of L. monocytogenes prevention.

FSIS will conduct varying levels of testing within each alternative based on the establishment’s supporting documentation. If a plant cannot support its selection of alternative 1 or 2, it will be tested more frequently than plants with more documented program verification, such as actual laboratory data.

Silliker can help you minimize intensified verification testing by working with you to develop and assess programs that can withstand regulatory scrutiny and meet the requirements of your customers:

L. monocytogenes environmental monitoring programs
Silliker consultants and / or technical sales managers can help you develop comprehensive and cost-effective programs focused on plant and line specific volumes & frequency.·
Product sampling verification programs for L. monocytogenes
Our technical experts can help you verify that your HACCP program can withstand regulatory scrutiny, and provide insight on FSIS sampling requests and requirements.
Finished product sampling programs for L. monocytogenes
Our reliable analytical results and 24/7 access to your data through our secured website (Silliker-eSTAR) can provide you with quick results when FSIS samples are pulled.
Process validation studies on individual products
Our Research Center scientists can validate your processes to show conformance with Alternatives 1,2, or 3 requirements of the USDA regulations.
Product challenge and shelf life studies
Our Research Center scientists can perform shelf life and challenge studies to validate HACCP plan conformance to Alternatives 1,2 or 3 requirements of the USDA regulations.
Employee training programs on HACCP, sampling, and sanitation programs
Silliker public short courses, training videos, and customized programs provide you with practical, science-based information to ensure the safety and quality of your product.

Click here to request our Listeria White Paper packet (includes two articles: Listeria Monocytogenes: "Listeria monocytogenes: Significance in Ready to Eat Meat" and Developing an Effective Environmental Program") or to learn more about how Silliker, Inc. can assist you in your Listeria control initiatives.

More information is available from FSIS:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/search/search_results/index.asp?query=Listeria+in+RTE&x=18&y=9

We can help you evaluate your current Listeria control programs and identify potential problem areas and improvement strategies.
Fill out the form below and hit the submit button to have a Silliker Representative contact you or to request free information.
Silliker believes in client confidentiality and does not sell its list or client information to any other organization.

Tell Us How We Can Help You	URGENT! Please have a SILLIKER representative call on me immediately: I want assistance reassessing our HACCP plans I want to discuss environmental sampling programs I want to discuss finished product testing programs I want to discuss process validation studies (CCP verification)
Please send me FREE information. To receive this information faster, don't forget to provide us with your email address below.	Employee Training: Videos and courses covering HACCP, employee hygiene and plant sanitation Listeria White Paper "Listeria monocytogenes: Significance in Ready to Eat Meat" and Developing an Effective Environmental Program."
Prefix	Dr. Mr. Ms. Ing.
First Name
Last Name
Title
Company
Address	Suite
City
State/Province	Zip/Postal Code
Country
Telephone
Fax
E-mail Address
What is your company's primary product/service?
Is your company a current SILLIKER customer?	Yes No
How did you hear about our Web site?
Comments/Questions