Handheld device launched for contaminant detection

Food processors are constantly searching for faster and cheaper ways of spotting pathogens, as bringing down detection times can help managers prevent contaminated foods from reaching consumers. The new SustemSure hygiene monitoring system is a small palm-sized instrument with an easy to use, menu driven keypad. The box comprises a photodiode sensor, the company said, which when run over either a production surface or a water sample picks up even "extremely low levels of contamination",​ Hygiena added. Once the results are recorded, the system can then be attached to a PC for further examination of the results. The device is particularly useful for checking the efficacy of cleaning systems in plants, the company said, as improper or faulty sanitisation can lead to a breach in food laws such as hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) controls. The HACCP rules are a systematic preventative approach to food safety aiming to spot physical, chemical and biological hazards during the manufacturing process. Using a small, handheld device is also less expensive than traditional systems, the company added. Hygiena is a microbiology and life science company that provides hygience monitering systems and dilution devices for food processors, supermarkets, hospitals and laboratories. Based in California, US, the company also has a satellite office in the UK.