Neogen Releases Rapid Test to Detect Eggs - Company Press Release
SOURCE: Neogen Corporation
Neogen Releases Rapid Test to Detect Eggs
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Neogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NEOG - news) today announced the release of the only commercial test available to protect consumers from the presence of minute quantities of unlabeled eggs in food products.
The technology is of critical importance to the millions worldwide who face severe consequences, up to and including death, if they accidentally ingest eggs. An allergy to eggs is most prevalent among infants and children, and is one of the more common food allergies, according to researchers.
''While experience has shown that the incidence of egg contamination in an unintended product is not common, experience has also shown us that such an occurrence can have severe consequences,'' said James Herbert, Neogen's president. ''Until today, food processors did not have a simple, rapid and accurate option to ensure such contamination did not occur. We are very pleased to provide this solution.''
The egg test is seen as most critical to processors of pasta, ice cream, baby food and salad dressing -- for the most part, foods that make up a large percentage of the diet of infants and children.
The test for eggs was developed by Neogen in cooperation with the University of Nebraska's Food Allergy Research and Resource Program. The university's Dr. Sue Hefle is co-director of the team that developed the test. Dr. Hefle said egg contamination occurs when egg residues get into another food that is processed on shared equipment. Processing foods on the same equipment is common and economically necessary, she said.
''The equipment used by the food processors historically has not been designed to be taken apart and cleaned to the levels necessary to avoid egg residue between runs of product with eggs and without eggs,'' said Dr. Hefle. ''And, because of microbial concerns, you can't always introduce water to the equipment for cleaning. The test for eggs gives the industry what it has wanted -- a quick and easy way to be sure all traces of the allergen have been removed from the equipment.''
Undeclared egg residues have led to recalls of 102 products in the past three years, she said.
Neogen's ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)-based egg test kit takes only 30 minutes to complete and requires only a minimal amount of training to use. Previously, processors had to rely on a test method that took days to complete in a laboratory setting. Neogen recently introduced its rapid test for peanuts. Rapid tests for other common food allergens, including casein, are being actively pursued by Neogen in cooperation with University of Nebraska researchers.
Neogen Corporation is a Lansing, Michigan based company that develops and markets products and services dedicated to food and animal safety. The Company's diagnostic products are used to test for foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases and quality assurance.
SOURCE: Neogen Corporation
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