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Bringing innovation to the Food Services industry

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Food Chain Laboratories, based in Port Elizabeth officially launched its new state-of-the-art laboratory yesterday at a breakfast briefing with relevant stakeholders and role-players from the food services industry. The new facility, a collaboration between Dr Herman Bosman of The Poultry Practice and Janice Giddy of Entecom (A Food Safety training and Consultancy business) boasts an innovative on-line reporting system which is able to flag out of specification results and automatic trend analysis of tested food and feed products.

Globalization of our food supply has necessitated microbiological testing across the food chain in order to ensure that food ingredients and end products comply with customer as well as legislative requirements. Raw materials, processing equipment, water, staff hygiene, and the environment are a few of many factors that may influence the microbiological safety of food products and contamination can occur almost anywhere along the farm-to-table pathway. A food testing laboratory such as Food Chain Laboratories, who are SANAS 17025 accredited and DAFF approved provide a critical role for consumers. Food organisations are required by law to ensure that their products are safe for human consumption and Food Chain Laboratories provides a critical link in the cycle by providing food organisations with laboratory test methods and practices that are internationally recognised.

Outbreak investigations and routine screening play a central role in combating food borne illness. The new facility offers microbiological (food, feed, water, environmental monitoring, veterinary, pharmaceuticals and raw material), serological (veterinary) and molecular [Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ] testing for  the food production chain. Boasting an advanced reporting system, the new laboratory uses V-lab software specifically developed by programming expert Dave Higgs of Premier Software to assist clients with the interpretation of results and problem solving.

“Our new facility offers clients a unique competitive edge,” said Dr Bosman, MD of Food Chain Laboratories, “we are able to provide clients in-house specifications on local and international standards. V-Lab is uniquely designed to provide clients with up to the minute trend analysis reports of their  microbiological results. These are automatically trended and can be accessed via our website at any point of the reporting process saving them a considerable amount of time.”

Food Chain Laboratories uses PCR to detect the presence of the suspected pathogens. Environmental monitoring may also identify the source of food contamination and assist in minimizing the risk of cross-contamination to other food products.
As new technology advances are made, this versatile platform – with plans to expand the functionality in the future, will continue to play a greater role in protecting the global food supply.

Herman Bosman and Janice Giddy
Dr Herman Bosman of The Poultry Practice and Janice Giddy of Entecom co-founders of Food Chain Laboratories
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.