Today, a new instant screening test for harmful levels of E. coli and salmonella will be available to the food service industry worldwide, according to Magna Medical Services Inc.
The test can alert food handlers to levels of harm within minutes, instead of the routine 2 – 5 days it takes to verify contamination from lab culture samples.
The screening test was developed by a medical consortium of industry and clinical facilities, and is distributed by Desaderal Inc. in Canada and Magna Medical Services Inc. in the United States.
The MMS Salmonella strip can detect 50 of the most common and deadliest strains. The strips are submerged in food samples, if the organism is present the strip will change color. Each strip will cost approximately $2.50 and will be sold through restaurant food vendors worldwide.