Register for free to
view the full innovation profile.
FreshCheck is a novel, simple and cost effective method for assessing the hygienic status of food contact surfaces using a colourimetric indicator to show the presence of bacteria
About
Many customers rely heavily on their verification systems from visual standards or ATP results. The question here is, is that enough in their ever-changing world with legislation, allergens etc. At Christeyns Food Hygiene we have a new concept to add even further value to minimising risk to the safety of your products. This new and unique hygiene verification method from Christeyns Food Hygiene will help any hygiene professional reveal the presence of live, viable bacterial populations on food contact and preparation surfaces in a matter of seconds. The product has been tested by Campden BRI and has proven to be effective at revealing the presence of low levels of both pathogenic and spoilage bacteria including Listeria Monocytogenes and Salmonella.
Key Benefits
FreshCheck, a patented formulation, is a unique hygiene verification test that reveals the presence of viable bacterial populations and organic soiling on food contact and preparation surfaces in a matter of seconds via a colour-change method. Tested by Campden BRI, FreshCheck has proven to be effective at revealing the presence of low levels of both pathogenic and spoilage bacteria including Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium. It takes 30 seconds to provide a qualitative presence (or absence) of contamination, covering a 5x5cm area in one spray. Peter Littleton, Technical Director at Christeyns Food Hygiene, comments: “This is a very exciting product to work with, the new technology has applications in food service and retail as well as processing and manufacturing. We are also working in partnership to develop other ways in which FreshCheck could be used.” The product is applied onto a clean, dry surface and the original blue colour of the liquid will change if any contaminants are still on the surface in question. This can be measured against the colour-test guide on the product packaging. The result is immediate and thorough, as proven in testing carried out by Campden BRI. Specifically, testing found that L. Monocytogenes at a very low number of organisms per 25cm2 showed up quite clearly with FreshCheck as did Salmonella at the same level of contamination.
Applications
Assessment of hygiene and the efficacy of a cleaning & disinfection regime. Dynamic management of in-process cleaning through the ability to rapidly, and cheaply, reveal the presence of bacterial contaminants without the need for instrumentation. Training of new hygiene operatives to instantly demonstrate thier achievements. Identification of the bacterial build-up in "hot spots" prior to specific pathogen assessment, for example Listeria swabbing. FreshCheck will indicate whether a population is establishing immediately allowing the more targetted use of expensive and time-consuming microbiological analysis.