Why the Food Industry is Switching to Petrifilmâ„¢ Solutions

The Need for Innovation in Food Safety Testing

Ensuring food safety is paramount in the food industry, and microbial testing is a cornerstone of quality assurance. Traditional culture media, while effective, present significant challenges including time-intensive preparation, reliance on skilled labour, and limited throughput in large-scale operations. These limitations create a pressing need for innovative solutions like Petrifilm^â„¢.

What is Petrifilm^â„¢?

Petrifilm^â„¢ is an innovative, ready-to-use microbial testing solution designed to streamline food safety protocols. Unlike traditional agar plates, Petrifilm^â„¢ Plates are pre-prepared with a dehydrated nutrient medium and gelling agent embedded in a compact film, offering unmatched convenience and efficiency.

Each plate features a plastic-coated paper with a printed grid, cold-water-soluble nutrients, and an adhesive layer for secure application. This setup simplifies the testing process: simply apply a small sample, cover with the top film, and evenly distribute across the growth area. After incubation, microbial colonies can be accurately counted directly through the transparent film.

Petrifilm^â„¢ solutions cater to diverse industry requirements, offering plates for aerobic counts, E. Coli and coliform detection, yeast and mould counts, and more. These versatile testing options make Petrifilm^â„¢ the preferred choice for ensuring safety and compliance in the food industry.

Benefits of Petrifilm^â„¢ for the Food Industry

Petrifilm^â„¢ offers numerous advantages that make it a preferred choice for food safety testing:

• Ready-to-use convenience: Save hours of preparation by using pre-assembled testing media.
• Consistent and reproducible results: Standardised production ensures reliable outcomes for quality assurance.
• Compact design: Efficient storage minimises lab space requirements.
• Cost-effectiveness: Reduce labor and preparation costs over time.
• Enhanced Data Throughput with Plate Reader Compatibility: Petrifilm^â„¢ is designed to integrate seamlessly with automated plate readers, enabling faster and more accurate data capture. This compatibility not only reduces manual errors but also significantly increases the speed at which results can be processed, especially in high-throughput settings. By using plate readers, laboratories can handle large volumes of tests with ease, improving overall efficiency.
• Broad Application Range with Specific Solutions: With a variety of Petrifilm^â„¢ plates tailored to different testing needs—such as aerobic counts, E. Coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and yeast and mould detection—businesses can choose the exact solutions that match their requirements. This flexibility ensures that Petrifilm^â„¢ adapts to diverse industries and testing environments, from bottled water facilities to complex food processing plants.

Comparing Petrifilm^â„¢ with Traditional Culture Media

When compared to traditional methods, Petrifilm^â„¢ stands out in several areas:

Versatile Applications of Petrifilm^â„¢ in Food Testing

Petrifilm^â„¢ plates are widely used across the food industry to support essential safety and quality measures. They are effective for detecting pathogens such as Listeria, Enterobacteriaceae, and E. Coli, helping businesses meet regulatory standards. These plates are also well-suited for use in specific environments like bottled water facilities and food processing plants, where accurate and consistent microbial testing is a critical part of operations.

Petrifilm^â„¢ types:

• Aerobic Count
• Enterobacteriaceae Count
• Staph Express Count
• E. Coli and Coliform
• Select E. Coli
• Environmental Listeria
• Coliform Count
• Aqua Heterotrophic (bottled water only)
• Yeast and Mould
• Lactic Acid Bacteria Count

Rapid Range:

• Rapid E. Coli and Coliform Count
• Rapid Staph Express Count
• Rapid Yeast and Mould
• Rapid Aerobic Count

Enhancing Efficiency in High-Demand Settings

In the fast-paced food industry, productivity and efficiency are critical for maintaining a competitive edge. Petrifilm^™ is designed to streamline workflows, enabling technicians to process up to 500 plates daily—significantly boosting sample throughput compared to traditional methods.

Paired with the Neogen^® Petrifilm^® Plate Reader Advanced, businesses can achieve even greater efficiency. This compact, AI-powered device automates colony counting for 11 popular Petrifilm™ types, including the Petrifilm™ Staph Express Disk. By reducing manual tasks, it minimises errors, accelerates turnaround times, and frees up resources to focus on core operations. For food companies managing high-demand testing environments, Petrifilm™ and its advanced plate reader are essential tools for success.

*Results compared to traditional agar plates

Environmental and Sustainability Considerations

Petrifilm^â„¢ contributes to sustainability through reduced resource usage, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and minimised waste thanks to its long shelf life and efficient design.

A study compared the environmental impacts of Petrifilm^â„¢ Plates with traditional agar methods and found that when comparing raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, use, and disposal, Petrifilm^â„¢ Plates used 76% less energy and 79% less water, emitted 75% less greenhouse gas (GHG), and produced 66% less waste. Dive into the details and read Neogen's study on "Reduction in Primary Energy Demand, Blue Water Consumption, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Petrifilm Plates Compared to Traditional Microbiological Analysis Method."

Practical Steps for Implementing Petrifilm^â„¢

Transitioning to Petrifilm^â„¢ is straightforward and comes with ample support to ensure success. Minimal training is required for technicians, and the plates are easy to store, transport, and integrate into existing workflows. With the right resources, you can quickly begin reaping the benefits of this innovative testing solution.

Key resources are available to help you and your team integrate Petrifilmâ„¢ into your food safety testing processes:

• Attend Webinars for Certification: Deepen your understanding of Petrifilmâ„¢ by watching Neogen's expert-led webinars. Watch at least 45 minutes to earn an official Petrifilmâ„¢ Training Certificate. Register for the webinar "Petrifilm Certification Training: Mastering Food Safety Best Practice" or Register for Webinar "Neogen^® Petrifilm^® Certification Training Webinar".
• Watch the How-To Videos: Discover the step-by-step process for using Petrifilmâ„¢ Plates by viewing Neogen's detailed instructional videos.

Conclusion

Petrifilm^â„¢ is revolutionising food safety testing with its ready-to-use convenience, cost-efficiency, and unmatched reliability. For businesses looking to enhance their quality assurance processes, Petrifilm^â„¢ is the ideal solution. Curious about how much greener your operations can become with Petrifilm^â„¢? Use Neogen's simple calculator to discover your sustainability savings!

Calculate your Sustainability Savings

How to Get Started with Petrifilm^â„¢ Today

Transitioning to Petrifilmâ„¢ is easy and comes with ample support to ensure success. Start by reaching out to our dedicated support team for personalised guidance on product selection, storage, and integration into your testing protocols.

Have questions or need more details?

• Email us at: sales@lasec.com
• Fill out our inquiry form: Submit Your Inquiry
• Ready to buy? Browse the full Petrifilm^â„¢ range here: Shop the Range

Contact Lasec^® today to learn more and start using Petrifilm^™ in your food safety operations.