Rapid Automated System for the Detection of Objectionable Microorganisms in Nutraceutical and Dietary Supplements.

Background: The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) established microbiological procedures to evaluate nonsterile products and nutritional and dietary supplements for objectionable microorganisms of concern in the industry.

Validation of a Minor Modification to the Soleris® Direct Yeast and Mold Vial and Selective Supplement.

Here we describe results of a study to validate minor reagent formulation changes to the Soleris Direct Yeast and Mold (DYM) automated growth-based method for semi-quantitative detection of yeast and mold in food products. In order to reduce the maximum concentration of the selective agent chloramphenicol in the Soleris reagents, chloramphenicol was removed from the selective supplement and added to the vial growth medium itself. Therefore, both the vial medium and supplement have been reformulated in an alternative version of the method.

Validation of the Soleris direct yeast and mold method for semiquantitative determination of yeast and mold in a variety of foods.

A study was carried out to determine the efficacy of the Soleris Direct Yeast and Mold (DYM) automated growth-based method for semiquantitative detection of yeast and mold in a variety of food products. A probability of detection (POD) statistical model was used to compare Soleris results at multiple test thresholds (dilutions) with plate counts determined using the U.S.

Semiquantitative determination of mesophilic, aerobic microorganisms in cocoa products using the Soleris NF-TVC method.

The Soleris Non-fermenting Total Viable Count method was previously validated for a wide variety of food products, including cocoa powder. A matrix extension study was conducted to validate the method for use with cocoa butter and cocoa liquor. Test samples included naturally contaminated cocoa liquor and cocoa butter inoculated with natural microbial flora derived from cocoa liquor.

Validation of the Soleris NF-TVC method for determination of total viable count in a variety of foods.

A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the Soleris Non-fermenting-Total Viable Count (NF-TVC) automated growth-based method for semiquantitative detection of mesophilic, aerobic microorganisms in a variety of food products. A probability of detection (POD) statistical model was used to compare Soleris results at multiple test thresholds (dilutions) with aerobic plate counts determined using reference dilution plating procedures. Nine naturally contaminated food products were tested, with Soleris testing performed at three or four threshold levels for each food.

Performance comparison of the BioSys optical assay and the violet red bile agar method for detecting coliforms in food products.

Coliform counts in a variety of foods, including dairy products (raw milk, pasteurized milk, yogurt, butter, and ice cream), meats (pork sausage, ground beef, and raw chicken), raw eggs, and chocolate, were performed by the rapid automated BioSys optical assay and the conventional method with violet red bile agar (VRBA). The standard deviation (SD) among five replicate counts for the optical assay was similar to or better than that obtained with VRBA plates for all foods tested. The average SD for all foods tested was 0.