Rapid E coli O157 diagnostic system gets first major order

Calgary, AB – Vacci-Test Corporation says it has made its first commercial sale and installation of its FoodChek(TM)-E coli O157 system. The sale is to US-based Rastelli Foods Group for its Swedesboro NJ processing facility. The order was received by Vacci-Test following successful completion of an on-site evaluation at the Rastelli facility, which validated the system’s ability to provide E coli O157 test results within a single production shift.

The system is a fast and accurate test for detecting E coli O157 in raw ground beef and trim. The manufacturer says it has demonstrated greater sensitivity than USDA/FSIS’ baseline requirement and current test method, and detects the presence and level of E coli O157 contamination after only six hours of sample enrichment.

“Currently, we operate under a test/hold plan, requiring us to wait 24 hours in order to obtain accurate results based upon current USDA approved test methods,” says Carl (Chip) Zerr, quality assurance manager of the Rastelli Foods Group. “Now, with the FoodChek(TM) system, we can eliminate this expensive practice and ship our tested ground products during the same shift that they are produced. The system provides our organization with both a cost benefit and a competitive food safety edge in the marketplace.”

Rastelli’s is a global supplier of custom beef, pork and seafood products to global food service customers across North America, Asia, and the Middle East.