Neogen Combats Listeria Problem
LANSING, Mich., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Neogen said today that activities related to its diagnostic test to detect Listeria have increased since President Clinton outlined his plan last week for mandatory testing to reduce Listeria. The plan calls for reducing illnesses by half by the year 2005, five years earlier than the administration's previous goal.
According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria sickens 2,500 and kills about 500 in the U.S. each year. In one 1998 outbreak alone, Listeria-contaminated product was linked to 100 illnesses in 22 states, as well as 15 deaths and six miscarriages.
The President's plan calls for implementation of mandatory testing in the upcoming months. Neogen's test kit helps satisfy the rules for Listeria testing by providing:
* Facility environmental testing for general Listeria species;
* Product contact surface testing for general Listeria species.
``The President has clearly identified Listeria as a serious hazard in prepared food products,'' said James Herbert, Neogen's president. ``This is important, especially now, with the onset of hot weather that allows bacteria to spread more rapidly.
``Neogen has an excellent history of working with food processors to improve safety and comply with regulations,'' Herbert continued. ``These test products are easy to use, inexpensive and protect consumers as well as processors. With the addition of Acumedia, Neogen is now a complete one-stop-shop for rapid testing.''
Neogen's REVEAL for Listeria Test System can detect Listeria species, including the dangerous L. monocytogenes, in as little as 43 hours -- a critical time savings for producers over conventional methodology, which can take up to a week to produce results. The rapid system has extremely high correlation with conventional methods, and is ``Performance Tested'' by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists.
Neogen's food safety solutions are specifically designed to minimize user time and maximize convenience. Neogen's lines of REVEAL and ALERT microbial tests also include tests for E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Campylobacter which yield results in a fraction of the time required of conventional laboratory methodology.
Food processors with questions concerning rapid testing for Listeria, or how to incorporate microbial testing into their HACCP plans, can call Neogen toll-free at 800-234-5333.
Neogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NEOG - news) is a Lansing, Mich.-based company that develops and markets products and services dedicated to food and animal safety. The Company's diagnostic products are used by food and animal producers to test for foodborne bacteria, food allergens, natural toxins,
drug and chemical residues, plant diseases and quality assurance.
SOURCE: Neogen Corporation |
