Food Safety

In recent years the food industry has seen a significant increase in the number of reported incidents of illness caused by food contamination. Heightened consumer awareness regarding food safety, strengthened government regulations, such as the Food Safety Modernization Act in the U.S., and the increased presence of pathogens in the food chain such as salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, have led to significant challenges in the industry including:

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• Liability to harmed customers

• Legal defense costs

• Increased insurance costs 

• Recall costs

• Loss of reputation and sales

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Contaminated water sprayed onto vegetables for irrigation or ingestion of unsafe water by animal herds are key sources of food contamination. Food safety requires continuous pathogen monitoring at the actual or potential source of exposure to catch problems before consumer consumption occurs. Existing detection and identification technologies rely upon on-site sampling, off-site laboratory processing, and significant processing time, making it impossible to prevent human consumption of pathogen-contaminated food effectively. All too often, illness is the first indication of the presence of foodborne pathogens. BiSen Tech’s biosensors allow for real-time detection of foodborne pathogens within seconds and pathogen identification within minutes. This technology features: 

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• A flexible design that allows for customized, simultaneous targeting of multiple pathogens of concern, ranging from protozoa to bacteria and viruses.

• Sensors small enough to be incorporated into handheld devices to allow for on-site monitoring at multiple points throughout food processing, distribution, and sale.

• Remote monitoring capabilities and automatic electronic alerts.

• Autonomous processing capabilities eliminate the need for lab equipment and technicians.

• Low cost of operation—sensors are reusable and self-cleaning, and no consumables are required.